El-Ayoune court aquits ASVDH members of new charges

23 Oct 2007 | Information/Update, Political Prisoners

El-Ayoune – Western Sahara

The Court of First Authority of El-Ayoune acquitted yesterday, Monday, October 22, 2007, two members of ASVDH, Mr. Brahim SABBAR (upper left) and Mr. Ahmed SBAI (upper middle) as well as other Saharawi political prisoners, Mr. Elhafed TOUBALI, Mr. Ahmed Salem AHMEIDAT, Mr. Mohamed Lehbib ELGASMI and Mr. Abdessalam LOUMADI.

We recall that the Saharawi political detainees had been charged by the court for having offended the magistrates. That new charge, according to very reliable sources, was determined in a circular by the Ministry of Justice to compel the Sahrawi political detainees not to shout political slogans relating to the right of the Sahrawi people’s to self-determination. Similarly, and during the trial on Monday, October 8, 2007, these five detainees were evacuated from the courtroom one minute after entering the courtroom for having shouted slogans denouncing their iniquitous and inequitable sentences. After their evacuation, the five Sahrawi prisoners were put in a police car where they were violently beaten and insulted before giving them in another car which lead them to the prison which prevent them from there right to defend themselves before the court. The trial was then put in deliberation and the judgement was to be read on October 22. The families of these five prisoners were taken to courtroom at the Court of Appeal whereas the trial proceeded in a different room. This new police operation did not make it possible for these families to attend the trial of their children.

We also recall that Mr. Brahim SABBAR had been condemned to two years of firm prison (in company of the Sahrawi political prisoner Mr. Ahmed Mahmoud HADDI, who was condemned to three years of firm prison, and his brother Mr. Mohamed Lamine HADDI, who was condemned to one year with deferment) as he was condemned to one year and half of firm prison in company of Mr. Ahmed SBAI.

In the context of the judgments against members of ASVDH, three of which are still in prison (Mr. Brahim SABBAR, Mr. Ahmed and Mr. Mohamed SBAI TAHLIL), the trial of Mr. BOULLAHI Sadyk, member of the executive bureau of ASVDH, has been set for deliberation on November 2007. This decision was taken by the Court of First Instance of El-Ayoune in Oct. 11. We recall in this regard that Mr. BOULLAHI was charged for constitution of an unauthorized association.

In addition, three other Saharawi political prisoners, Mr. Sheikh Ali Khallihenna DLIMI, Mr. Mohamed Ahmed and Mr. BARKOUH Hamid Ahmed, arrested in Smara last June and incarcerated in the Black Prison of El-Ayoune, will appear the day after tomorrow, Thursday, October 25, 2007, before the court of first authority of El-Ayoune, as was decided during audience of Wednesday, September 19, 2007.