Moroccan police in Western Sahara detain, molest and sodomize 16 year old Sahrawi girl

24 Feb 2009 | Information/Update, Testimony

On Sunday, Moroccan police in the occupied Western Sahara detained a young Sahrawi girl and proceeded to interrogate her, molest her and sodomize her with their truncheons. They even threatened to kill her if she made her story public. Her statement was recorded by ASVDH and the Organization of Sahrawi Defenders 2nd Generation. It was independently verified by the Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara.

Her testimony is presented here:

Sunday 22 Ferbuary 2009 c. 19h00, Maatallah
Laayoune / Western Sahara

Walking through the Maatallah district [Laayoune, Moroccan occupied Western Sahara] I was surprised by six plainclothes police in the company of the well-known torturer Mohamed El Hassouni, known as “the Mustache”, who forced me into their vehicle. When we arrived near the Allal ben Adellah school, they covered my eyes and handcuffed me behind my back. I wanted to understand the reason for this detention. One of them, known as El Aalaoui told me that I had broken the law by attending a meeting of human rights defenders, including the last meeting with Michèle Decaster of France in the presence of my friend Nguia El Haoussi.

All along the drive, I received hits and kicks, and I became very emotionally upset, but I realized that some Sahrawi youths had followed this car when they saw a young Sahrawi girl abducted. At this moment, they threw me to the floor and covered my mouth with their hands.

We waited for awhile for some officers to arrive, which included the well-known Abd El Aziz, known as “Taouhima”, who ordered them to strip me naked and hold my hands while Aziz touched my breasts and kissed me on the mouth. I tried to resist but I needed strength.

He then asked me about my relationship with human rights activists, including Djimi El GHALIA [ASVDH], Brahim DAHAAN [ASVDH], Brahim SABBAR [ASVDH], and Rabab AMIDAN. He also questioned me about graffiti in the Maatallah district and the reception recently organized for Hammad HMAD at the end of last month. He then threatened to rape me, bury me alive and also threatened to have my father fired and detain my young brothers.

About my involvement in the distribution of leaflets at the Laayoune school, he threatened me and intimidated me in order to have me drop out. He then ordered the other police to sodomize me with their batons. I will never forget this tragic and inhumane memory.

They handcuffed me again, this time hands and feet. Now Abd El Azzi Anouche asked me about my relationship with the militant Ahmed SBAÏ [ASVDH] and any preparations for the 33rd anniversary of the SADR [Western Sahara's government in exile]. They also threatened to kill me if I make a statement available on the internet.

They release me near the Hassan II hospital after stealing the 100 Moroccan dirhams I had on me.

I decided to make this statement so that all forces can intervene, as the silence about these crimes encourages these tortures to continue to commit many more.