Free Western Sahara activists call
War on Want
NEWS PEG: Friday, 5 November 2010 Casablanca Death threat looms over Western Sahara human rights defenders
‘Free human rights defenders’ call
Western Sahara activists face treason charges
The anti-poverty charity War on Want is calling for the immediate release of human rights defenders who go on trial in the Moroccan city Casablanca today for alleged treason over their support for people demanding self-determination for Western Sahara.
Three people – Brahim Dahane, Ali Salem Tamek and Ahmad Anasiri – have been detained since their arrest last October when they returned to Casablanca from a humanitiarian visit to Saharawi refugee camps in Algeria.
Tens of thousands of people are forced to live in the camps after Morocco annexed Western Sahara in 1976.
The charity is supporting the three along with film maker Ken Loach, MP Jeremy Corbyn, vice-chair of the Parliamentary Human Rights Group, and three other MPs, Green party leader Caroline Lucas, Katy Clark and Paul Flynn.
Mr Dahane is president of the Sahrawi Association of Victims of Grave Violations of Human Rights and Mr Tamek is vice-president of the Sahrawi Collective of Human Rights Defenders.
Mr Anasiri is general secretary of the Sahrawi Committee for the Defence of Human Rights in Smara.
Four others on the trip - Yadih Ettarrouzi, Rachid Sghayar, Saleh Lebayhi and Idagia Lachgarewere - were also held, then released following a 41-day hunger strike, but face the same charge of threatening Moroccan security, which carries the death penalty
War on Want says the defendants have committed no crime and should be freed now.
It contrasts Morocco’s signature to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights with its failure to respect the right of people to defend civil and political rights without fear of reprisal.
Graciela Romero, international programmes director at War on Want, said: “It is a blatant violation of international human rights law that Morocco has kept these defenders locked up for over a year and will now try them on false charges which threaten death. The Rabat government must release them at once.”
War on Want
NEWS PEG: Friday, 5 November 2010 Casablanca Death threat looms over Western Sahara human rights defenders
‘Free human rights defenders’ call
Western Sahara activists face treason charges
The anti-poverty charity War on Want is calling for the immediate release of human rights defenders who go on trial in the Moroccan city Casablanca today for alleged treason over their support for people demanding self-determination for Western Sahara.
Three people – Brahim Dahane, Ali Salem Tamek and Ahmad Anasiri – have been detained since their arrest last October when they returned to Casablanca from a humanitiarian visit to Saharawi refugee camps in Algeria.
Tens of thousands of people are forced to live in the camps after Morocco annexed Western Sahara in 1976.
The charity is supporting the three along with film maker Ken Loach, MP Jeremy Corbyn, vice-chair of the Parliamentary Human Rights Group, and three other MPs, Green party leader Caroline Lucas, Katy Clark and Paul Flynn.
Mr Dahane is president of the Sahrawi Association of Victims of Grave Violations of Human Rights and Mr Tamek is vice-president of the Sahrawi Collective of Human Rights Defenders.
Mr Anasiri is general secretary of the Sahrawi Committee for the Defence of Human Rights in Smara.
Four others on the trip - Yadih Ettarrouzi, Rachid Sghayar, Saleh Lebayhi and Idagia Lachgarewere - were also held, then released following a 41-day hunger strike, but face the same charge of threatening Moroccan security, which carries the death penalty
War on Want says the defendants have committed no crime and should be freed now.
It contrasts Morocco’s signature to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights with its failure to respect the right of people to defend civil and political rights without fear of reprisal.
Graciela Romero, international programmes director at War on Want, said: “It is a blatant violation of international human rights law that Morocco has kept these defenders locked up for over a year and will now try them on false charges which threaten death. The Rabat government must release them at once.”
Les Militants sahraouis face à des accusations de trahison
L'organisme de bienfaisance contre la pauvreté War on Want appelle à la libération immédiate des défenseurs des droits de l'homme qui vont à l'essai dans la ville marocaine de Casablanca aujourd'hui pour trahison présumée de leur soutien pour les personnes demandent l'autodétermination pour le Sahara occidental.
Trois personnes - Brahim Dahane, Ali Salem Tamek et Ahmad Anasiri - ont été détenus depuis leur arrestation en Octobre lors de leur retour à Casablanca d'une visite à humanitiarian camps de réfugiés sahraouis en Algérie.
Des dizaines de milliers de personnes sont forcées de vivre dans les camps après le Maroc a annexé le Sahara occidental en 1976.
La charité est l'appui des trois en même temps que le cinéaste Ken Loach, député Jeremy Corbyn, vice-président du Groupe parlementaire des droits de l'homme, et trois autres députés, chef du Parti Vert Caroline Lucas, Katy Clark et Paul Flynn.
M. Dahane est président de l'Association Sahraouie des Victimes des violations graves des droits de l'homme et M. Tamek est vice-président du Collectif sahraoui des défenseurs des droits de l'homme.
M. Anasiri est secrétaire général du Comité sahraoui pour la défense des droits de l'homme à Smara.
Quatre autres sur le voyage - Yadih Ettarrouzi, Rachid Sghayar, Saleh Lebayhi et Idagia Lachgarewere - ont également eu lieu, puis libéré après une grève de la faim de 41 jours, mais le visage du même chef d'accusation de menaces de sécurité marocaines, qui porte la peine de mort
War on Want dit les accusés n'ont commis aucun crime et doit être libéré aujourd'hui.
Elle oppose la signature du Maroc sur le Pacte international relatif aux droits civils et politiques avec son non-respect du droit des peuples à défendre les droits civils et politiques sans crainte de représailles.
Graciela Romero, directeur international des programmes à War on Want, a déclaré: "C'est une violation flagrante du droit international des droits de l'homme que le Maroc a maintenu ces défenseurs enfermés pendant plus d'un an et maintenant les essayer sur de fausses accusations qui menacent de mort. Le gouvernement de Rabat doit les libérer immédiatement. "
Commentaire