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Western Sahara: Arrest and pre-trial detention of human rights defender Mr Atiqu Barraiposted on: 2011/11/25

On 14 November 2011, the Moroccan police forces arrested Western Saharan human rights defender Mr Atiqu Barrai near his family home in the town of Dakhla.

Western Sahara: Arrest and incommunicado detention of four human rights defenders as part of ongoing government crackdownposted on: 2011/10/10

On 2 and 3 October 2011, human rights defenders, Messrs Kamal Al Tarayh, Abd Al Aziz Barrai, Al Mahjoub Awlad Al Cheih and Mohamed Manolo were arrested by the Moroccan authorities in different areas of Dakhla town, Western Sahara. It is reported that they are currently being detained incommunicado and, as such, their current whereabouts are unknown.

Western Sahara: Imprisoned human rights defenders begin hunger strikeposted on: 2011/02/25

On 22 February 2011, imprisoned human rights defenders Messrs Ali Salem Tamek, Brahim Dahane and Ahmad Anasiri began a hunger strike in Casablanca prison, demanding access to a fair trial and an improvement of the conditions of their imprisonment, or their unconditional release from detention.

Further Information

Ali Salem Tamek, Brahim Dahane and Ahmad Nasiri were originally arrested, along with four other human rights defenders, at Mohammed V Airport, Casablanca, on 8 October 2009 following a visit to a Saharawi refugee camp in Algeria.

Western Sahara - Human rights Defender Mr Mohamed Lamin Haddi arrested, held in incommunicado detention, referred to the Military Court in Rabatposted on: 2010/11/30

On 20 November 2010, human rights defender Mr Mohamed Lamin Haddi was arrested while waiting in a hotel lobby in El-Ayoun, Western Sahara.

Further Information

The precise location of Mohamed Lamin Haddi is unknown; however, a reliable source informed Front Line, that he was referred to the Military Court in Rabat. Mohamed Lamin Haddi is a member of The Sahrawi Association of Victims of Grave Human Rights Violations Committed by the Moroccan State (ASVDH), an organisation which works to promote human rights in Western Sahara.

On 20 November 2010, Mohamed Lamin Haddi had arranged to meet two Belgian doctors, Dr Marie-Jeanne Wuidar and Dr An Collier, who had travelled to El-Ayoun on a humanitarian mission. The mission was organised by the Belgian Committee in support of the Sahrawi People. Their mandate was to collect information on the humanitarian and medical situation on the ground, following an attack on 8 November 2010 of Camp Gdeim Izik, close to El-Ayoun, by the Moroccan forces.

Mohamed Haddi had agreed to accompany the doctors on their mission and visit victims of the attack of 8 November.

Western Sahara: Human rights defenders at high risk after Moroccan Security Apparatus raidposted on: 2010/11/12

On 8 November 2010, Moroccan military and security forces reportedly attacked a camp of displaced Sahrawi families to the east of Laayoune city, which led to the deaths of a number of displaced people as well as some Moroccan personnel. Front Line is concerned at the high level of risk for human rights defenders some of whom are named in this appeal.

Further Information

There have also been reports of a significant number of wounded civilians. Security measures were put in place in Laayoune and other cities in Western Sahara which led to the arrest of an undeclared number of human rights defenders.

While some of the human rights defenders are named in this appeal, Front Line fears that many others have also been subjected to arbitrary arrest and incommunicado detention considering the scale of this attack.

Three Saharawi activists imprisoned for defending human rights in Western Saharaposted on: 2010/10/15

On 8 October 2009, seven human rights defenders from Western Sahara were arrested at Mohamed V Airport in Casablanca, Morocco, allegedly by Moroccan security agents. All seven defenders advocate the right to self determination for the Saharawi people living in Moroccan controlled Western Sahara.

Four of the defenders were released on bail but are still facing charges. The remaining three men, Ali Salem Tamek, Brahim Dahane and Ahmad Anasiri, are still imprisoned awaiting trial.

It is thought that the arrest of the seven human rights defenders is directly linked to the visits they had made to Sahrawi refugee camps in south-west Algeria during their stay abroad.

On 7 January 2011, the ongoing trial of seven Saharawi human rights defenders was adjourned until 14 January. The human rights defenders' defence team boycotted the hearing in protest against alleged due process violations.

Western Sahara: Three human rights defenders sentenced to two years in prisonposted on: 2010/08/10

Front Line expresses its concern regarding the sentencing of three human rights defenders; Mr Ibrahim Beriaz, Mr Ali Salim Ablagh and Mr Saeed Al-Wa’ban. On 20 July 2010 the Court of Appeal in Marrakesh (sentenced the three defendants to two years in prison and a fine of 1000 Dirhams (approximately €90) each.

Western Sahara: Statement by lawyers on the deteriorating health conditions of six hunger-striking human rights defenders in arbitrary detentionposted on: 2010/04/27

Further to the Front Line Urgent Appeal sent on 9 October 2009, Front Line has received the following information regarding the case of seven imprisoned Western Saharan human rights defenders in arbitrary detention.

Western Sahara: Refusal to renew passports of Sahrawi human rights defenders, Ms El Ghalia Djimi and Mr Mustafa Al-Dahposted on: 2010/01/25

The Moroccan authorities have refused to renew the passports of human rights defenders Ms El Ghalia Djimi and Mr Mustafa Al-Dah and return the passports to them, on 23 January 2010. El Ghalia Djimi is the vice-president of the Sahrawi Association of Victims of Grave Violations of Human Rights (ASVDH), a human rights organisation based in Western Sahara which monitors and documents human rights abuses, and campaigns for an end to impunity. Mustafa Al-Dah is a member of the coordinating council of the same organisation. Front Line previously sent an appeal in relation to El Ghalia Djimi on 31 October 2007.

Western Sahara: Arbitrary detention of human rights defender Ms Aminatou Haidarposted on: 2009/11/14

On 13 November 2009, at 12.30 pm, human rights defender Ms Aminatou Haidar was arbitrarily arrested by the Moroccan security at El Ayoun airport in Western Sahara just after getting off the plane coming from Las Palmas airport, Canary Islands. Aminatou Haidar is the chairwoman of the Collectif des Défenseurs Sahraouis des Droits de l´Homme - CODESA (Collective of Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders).

Morocco / Western Sahara: Arrest of seven human rights defenders in Casablancaposted on: 2009/10/09

On 8 October 2009, seven human rights defenders from Western Sahara were arrested at Mohamed V Airport in Casablanca, Morocco, allegedly by Moroccan security agents.

Western Sahara: Alleged enforced disappearance of human rights defender, Ms Sukeina Idrissiposted on: 2009/10/07

On 1 October 2009 at 11.45am, human rights defender Ms Sukeina Idrissi, a member of the Sahrawi Association of Victims of Grave Violations of Human Rights (ASVDH) was kidnapped, reportedly by the police. Her whereabouts are unknown and the police deny that she has been arrested.

Shikhine Brahim - Western Saharaposted on: 2009/09/26

Front Line is deeply concerned by the news of the on-going detention of Saharwi human rights defender Shikhin Brahim. According to information received, as Front Line was visiting the region, on 21 September 2008, a group of Western Saharan activists, which included human rights defenders, organised a peaceful demonstration in the town of Smara, following which the Moroccan security services launched a campaign of arbitrary arrests of several defenders and attacked several homes. While Front Line welcomes the release of nearly all of those arrested, Shikhine Brahim reportedly remains in detention at the El-Áaiun prison. Shikhine Brahim is a school student and member of the Committee for The Protection of Human Rights in Smara, Western Sahara.

Western Sahara: Severe beating of human rights defender, Mr Mohammed al-Tahleel by security forcesposted on: 2009/09/02

Human rights defender Mr Mohammed al-Tahleel was briefly abducted and severely beaten by Moroccan security forces in Al-Laayoun city, Western Sahara on 21 August 2009. Mohammed al-Tahleel, is the head of the Bu-Jdur branch of the Sahrawi Association of Victims of Grave Human Rights Violations (ASVDH).

Western Sahara: Torture and solitary confinement of human rights defender Mr Yahya Mohamed el Hafed Aazaposted on: 2009/05/20

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the torture and solitary confinement of human rights defender, Mr Yahya Mohamed el Hafed Aaza, who is currently being detained in Ayat-Melol prison. Yahya Mohamed el Hafed Aaza is a member of the Tan-Tan Branch of the Association Marocaine des Droits de l'Homme – AMDH (Moroccan Association of Human Rights), as well as a member of the constitutive assembly of the Collectif des Défenseurs Sahraouis des Droits de l'Homme - CODESA (Collective of Sahrawi Human Rights defenders).