Said ELBAILLAL: Sentenced to Eight Months of Prison

19 Jan 2008 | Information/Update

Rabat – Morocco

The first degree appellate court in Rabat, Morocco, condemned the Sahrawi human rights defender and CODAPSO member, Mr Said ELBAILLAL, to eight months of prison and a fine of 500 dirhams on January 17, 2008.

We recall that the trial of Mr. ELBAILLAL started on Dec. 31, 2007, after his arrest on the 26th in Smara. The trial of Mr. ELBAILLAL had been originally postponed to January 03, 2008 and was postponed for a second time to January 17 for sentencing. Mr. ELBAILLAL is accused of incitement, armed gathering and infringement of civil servants in the performance of their duties.

The trial of January 03 was attended by Nicola Quatrano (Magistrate of the Italian Republic), Jose Manuel de la Fuente (Director of the Observatory for Human Rights of the College of Lawyers of Badajoz), Rosana Navarro (Lawyer of the College of Lawyers of Galicia), Javier Decomines (Lawyer of the College of Lawyers of Galicia), Sidi Mohamed Daddach (Chairman of the Sahrawi Committee for Support to Self-determination in Western Sahara (CODAPSO), Brahim Dahane (President of the Sahrawi Association of Human Rights Grave Violations committed by the Moroccan State), and Lahsen Moutik (Member of the Forum for Truth and Justice).

In this regard, we recall that the Saharawi political prisoner, Mr. Lekhlifa ELJANHAOUI, was released last Thursday after serving a prison sentence at the prison of Salé. Mr. ELJANHAOUI was arrested in May 2007 for taking part in Saharawi student’s demonstrations at the University of Rabat and was sentenced to eight months of prison.