Saharawi human rights defender, co-president of CORELSO incarcerated in Marrakech

17 Apr 2008 | Information/Update

El-Ayoune – Western Sahara

Mr. Ennaama ASFARI, a Sahrawi human rights defender and co-president of the CORELSO (Committee for the respect of freedoms and human rights in Western Sahara) was arrested by police agents Sunday, April 13, 2008, around 21: 30 GMT, in Marrakech. Mr. ASFARI who was driving his car was stopped by a group of five police officers in plain clothes in a car ‘Reneault Clio grey’ and who were following him since Saturday, April 12, 2008. Upon his arrest Mr. ASFARI was beaten before being placed in the car which the police officers were driving. Once in the car they had bandaged his eyes and took him to an unknown destination. Later, Mr. ASFARI found himself in a place he does not know, the eyes still blindfolded, handcuffed, naked, tied to a tree and abused once again. Then Mr. ASFARI, who could no longer bear the torture inflicted to him, lost consciousness and was taken to a hospital.

Monday, April 14, 2008, early in the morning, Mr. ASFARI was taken to the police station which is located in the place of Jamaa Elafna where he was subjected to interrogation on his relationship with the Sahrawi students and his activities. He was kept in this place until Tuesday, April 15, 2008 when he was presented to Attorney General in Marrakech at 10: 00 GMT, who decided to bring him before the court the same day. Then, and around 17: 00 GMT, Mr. ASFARI appeared before the court, which decided to postpone the hearing until Thursday, April 17, 2008, so that Mr. ASFARI can have a lawyer. The hearing of today has been postponed to Monday, April 21, 2008. The family of Mr. ASFARI was not informed about his arrest or the place of his detention.

Mr. ASFARI has been incarcerated at the prison Boulemharez in Marrakech since Tuesday, April 15, 2008. We also recall that Mr. ASFARI was arrested in Smara, on 05 January 2007, detained in the local prison, released on bail on January 11, 2007, and sentenced to two months’ imprisonment suspended on January 15, 2007. This sentence was confirmed in appeal on May 21 2007.