As Western Sahara rejoices in release of prominent rights defender, Moroccan forces increase repression on civil society
17 Jun 2008 | Information/Update
Sabbar House under surveillance by Moroccan forces
[See related statement of Amnesty International]
Following his release, Mr Sabbar went to the residence of another Western Saharan rights defender, Mr Ahmed SBAI, who shared recent time in prison with Mr. Sabbar. As this house was surrounded by Moroccan forces, prominent members of Western Sahara civil society and other rights defenders could not visit Mr. Sabbar. Mr. Sidi Mohamed DADACH, formerly one of the longest-held Prisoners of Conscience in Morocco, was allowed to enter but he was beaten by Moroccan forces when he left. Moroccan forces also attacked Mrs. Umm Alfadli Ali Ahmed Babou (54 years), breaking her eye-glasses during the assault.
Other blocked Western Saharans include:
- -Mr. Brahim DAHANE, president of the ASVDH
-Mr. Bachir LEKHFAWNI, member of the Executive Office of ASVDH and a survivor of Kalaat Meguouna
-Mr. Dahha RAHMOUNI, member of the Executive Office of the ASVDH
-Mr. Mohamed Saleh DAILLAL, member of the ASVDH and member of the Saharawi Committee for the Support to the right to self-determination and a survivor of Kalaat Meguouna
-Mrs. Najat AKHNIBILA, member of the ASVDH and member of the Saharawi Committee for the Support to the right to self-determination and a survivor of Kalaat Meguouna
-Ms. Dammaha AHMEIDAT, a survivor of Kalaat Meguouna
-Mr. Mohamed Fadel AFREITIS, member of the ASVDH and a survivor of Kalaat Meguouna
-Mr. Hassanna DOUIHI and his wife Mrs. Mina Abba Ali
-Mr. Saleh ZEIGHAM, a survivor of Kalaat Meguouna, and his wife Abaali,
The entire Sbai residence has been insulted as well.
Around 10h00 AM, Mr. Sabbar proceed to the house of Mr. Embarek HIJI, an ASVDH member and co-survivor of the Kalaat Megouna secret prison with Mr Sabbar. The neighbourhood where Mr. Hiji resides is completely besieged by Moroccan police, who likewise prevented any Western Saharans from approaching the house, including Mr. Sbai, who was accompanying Mr Sabbar.
Over the course of the past 24 hours, many young Sahrawis were arrested, beaten and insulted, including:
- -Mr. Nafai SAH (former political prisoner)
-Mr. Hassan ASOUHAILI (27 years)
-An unidentified young man from Smara
-Ms. Khadija LEBEIHI and Ms. Sana SBAI (attacked)
Western Saharan human rights defender, Mr. Brahim SABBAR spent ten years in forced disappearance in the secret Moroccan prison of Kalaat Meguouna between 1981 and 1991. On June 17, 2006, he was arrested in the company of current Saharawi political prisoner Mr. Ahmed Mahmoud HADDI (aka ‘Elkainan’) and his brother, Mr. Mohamed Lamine HADDI, and the former political prisoner, Mr. Ahmed SBAI, chairman of the Committee for the Protection of Saharan Prisoners in Moroccan Prisons and member of ASVDH.
The Moroccan court in occupied El-Ayoune, on July 20, 2006, gave them sentences ranging between one year reprieve for Mr. Mohamed Lamine HADDI, and two years for Mr. Brahim SABBAR, and three years for Mr. Ahmed Mahmoud HADDI (Elkainan). At a second trial on May 22, 2007, the Moroccan court in El-Ayoune condemned Mr. SABBAR and Mr. SBAI to one year in prison. The appellate court subsequently added six months in prison, making the second sentence one year and a half. Mr. SABBAR was sentenced to a total of three years and a half in prison. He was released after serving two years in prison, the maximum penalty of two penalties, as prescribed in the Moroccan Code of Criminal Procedure.
ASVDH takes this opportunity to express to Mr. SABBAR and all members of his family and all his friends and comrades, its warm and sincere congratulations, while condemning the siege imposed on the house of Mr. SBAI and that of Mr. HIJI. ASVDH also condemns the attack against Mr. Sidi Mohamed DADACH.