New Western Saharan hunger strike in Moroccan prison; Sidi Mohamed Dadach attacked

09 Jul 2008 | Information/Update, Political Prisoners, Statements

ZAWANI

Western Saharan political prisoner Mr. Abderrahman ZAWANI will lead an unlimited hunger strike, starting Thursday, July 10, 2008, to claim his legitimate rights from his Moroccan jailers, including: to be regarded as a political prisoner, to confine him with the other Sahrawi political prisoners, to be able to receive newspapers and books, and to allow his family and friends to visit him.

Moroccan police arrested Mr Zawan on Friday, June 6, 2008, in the Café Boufous in Tarfaya, southern Morocco. Some witnesses reported that ten gendarmes arrested Mr. ZAWAN (26 years) and beat him in the street, before he was transferred in a critical condition to the headquarters of the Judicial Police of El-Ayoune, Moroccan occupied Western Sahara. He was being pursued on charges of aggression against the Pasha of Tarfaya, Morocco, following the demonstrations strike last month in the same city.

On the other hand, the former political prisoner and chairman of CODAPSO (Saharawi Committee for the Support for Self-determination of the People of Western Sahara), Mr. Sidi Mohamed DADACH, was attacked and insulted yesterday, Tuesday, July 8, 2008, before the appellate court in El-Ayoune, Western Sahara, by officials of the Moroccan police. Mr. DADACH who wanted to attend the trial of five Sahrawi political prisoners was also prevented from entering the court.