Asfari sentenced to two months prison

29 Apr 2008 | Information/Update

Sahrawi human rights defender, Mr. Ennaâma ASFARI, co-president of the CORELSO, appeared yesterday Monday, April 28, 2008, before the court of first instance in Marrakech, for the following charges:
- Driving in a state of drunkenness
- Possession of a weapon (a knife)
- Having hit a motorist in the eye following a car crash

The defence of Mr. ASFARI focused on violations of the Moroccan Penal Code which guarantees the detainee’s right to prevent immediately a family member (which has not been done in the case of Mr. ASFARI) and protection of the physical integrity of the detainees (Mr. ASFARI was beaten before putting him in the police car and was tortured in an unknown location and he was not allowed to see a doctor). The defence also pointed out the contradictions between the witness and the complainant and emphasized the absence of evidence (the complainant denied seeing Mr. ASFARI with a knife, no medical analysis has been conducted to prove the drunk). The defence then asked the judge to rule fairly and seriously and to ensure a fair trial to the accused.

Mr. ASFARI, speaking, emphasised the political aspect of his judgement and refuted the accusations of the court and maintained he was detained on the basis of his political positions in relation to the conflict of Western Sahara.

The court then pronounced a sentence of two months’ imprisonment against Mr. Ennaâma ASFARI and a fine of three thousands dirham (3,000.00). The defence of Mr. ASFARI decided to appeal.

Mr. ASFARI was supported by lawyers, Me Mohamed SABBARI and Me RACHIDI Mustapha, and two French observers, France WEYL and Aline CHANU, four observers from Spain and two observers from Moroccan Human Rights associations in addition to Sahrawi activists, such as the former Sahrawi prisoner Sidi Mohamed DADACH, president of CODAPSO, Mohamed MAYARA, member of the executive office of the ASVDH, and Sid Ahmed LEJEYID, president of CSPRON.

We recall that Mr. ASFARI was arrested on April 13, 2008 in Marrakech. After various places of detention where he suffered mistreatment, he was presented to the prosecutor on April 15 and has been detained since April 17, 2008 at the prison Boulemharez in Marrakech.