Two Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders Arrested, Mr Ahmed SBAI released

19 Dec 2007 | Information/Update, Political Prisoners

El-Ayoune-Western Sahara

A group of Moroccan police, under the orders of the known-torturer Mr. Aboulhassan ICHI, arrested two Saharawi human rights defenders last Friday, December 14, 2007, on SMARA Avenue, around 22:15 GMT. Mr. Daha RAHMOUNI (left), a member of the executive bureau of ASVDH, and Mr. Brahim ELANSARI (right) member of the AMDH (section of El-Ayoune) and member of the Democratic Path (Morocco Leftist political party) were led to the security of El-Ayoune Province, where they were insulted, ill-treated, beaten, blindfolded, and were forced to sign the statements they were unable to read. Both defenders were released that Sunday, December 16, 2007 at 20: 00 GMT.

In this context, the human rights defender and member of CODESA, Mr. Fakkou LEBEIHI, was arrested Monday, Dec. 17, 2007 in Smara, who declared that he had been ill-treated and insulted. Mr. LEBEIHI was released two hours after his arrest.

In addition, a member of ASVDH’s coordinating council, Mr. Ahmed SBAI, who had been sentenced to a year and half of jail by the court of El-Ayoune, was released Monday, December 17, 2007, after serving his sentence. ASVDH, on this occasion, welcomes the release of its member, and congratulates Mr. SBAI and his family. On this opportunity, ASVDH reiterates its demand to release all Saharawi political detainees, among them the Secretary General Mr. Brahim SABBAR.