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Western Sahara
Posted 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. 
Posted 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).
Posted 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.
Posted 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.
Posted 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.
Posted 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).
Posted 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).
Posted on 2009/04/23
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).
Posted on 2009/04/10
Front Line is gravely concerned for the wellbeing of three human rights defenders from Western Sahara, Mr Khalihna Mrabbih Aboulhassan, Mr Brahim Elmekhtar Baryaz and Mr Alisalem Lehbib Ablagh, who have been on a hunger strike in Boulmharez prison in Marrakech since 13 February 2009, to protest against their detention and prison conditions.
Posted on 2009/01/26
Front Line is concerned by the harassment of human rights defenders Alnassiri Ahmed and Engiya Boukhars following meetings with Front Line representatives and a peaceful demonstration in Smara on 21 September 2008. Following a Front Line meeting with Mr Alnassiri Ahmed, Moroccan security services raided his home but did not find him there. He was subsequently dismissed from his job at Khraibka Municipality. Al Nassiri is the Secretary General of the Committee for Protection of Human Rights in Smara-Western Sahara and a member of the Moroccan Human Rights Society. Women’s human rights defender Engiya Boukhars Alshaikhi who also met with the Front Line delegation was physically assaulted during the demonstration on September 21, 2008 by security forces and has since had her salary frozen.
Posted on 2008/10/30
Update
Front Line welcomes the decision of the Moroccan authorities to reinstate the monthly social support for Abdulla Al-hamdi, member of the Committee for Protection of Human Rights in Smara-Western Sahara. However, Front Line regrets that other members of this group and other Sahrawi human rights groups are reportedly still subjected to suspension of social support apparently as a means to hinder their human rights activities, including, Saeed Albelal, Mohamed Alsa’ed, Mariam Ment Jaffre, Abdullah Al-hamdy, Engiya Boukhars and Sakina Jedahlo Al-Edreesi.
Posted on 2008/10/10
Following its recent visit to Western Sahara from 15 to 22 September 2008, Front Line expresses its serious concern in relation to repressive practices against human rights defenders in Western Sahara. These include intrusive surveillance of defenders, the imposition of obstacles to registration of non-governmental organisations, physical attacks and arbitrary detentions, such as the wave of arrests carried out on 21 September following a peaceful demonstration in the town of Smara.
Posted on 2008/06/20
Front Line would like to welcome the release of human rights defender Brahim Sabbar on 17 June 2008 after serving a two-year sentence in the Civil Prison of El-Ayoune, also known as the “Black Prison”. However, Front Line is concerned that his freedom of movement is still highly restricted. Front Line is also deeply concerned following reports that human rights defenders, including members of the Association Sahraouie des Victimes des Violations Graves des Droits de l’Homme Commises par l’Etat du Maroc (Sahrawi Association of Victims of Grave Human Rights Violations Committed by the Moroccan State) (ASVDH) have been refused access by police officers to visit him and some have been subject to attacks.
Posted on 2008/05/13
Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the arrest of human rights defender Hammoud Iguilid on 10 May 2008. Hammoud Iguilid is a member of the secretariat of the Collectif des Défenseurs Sahraouis des Droits de l´Homme - CODESA (Committee for the respect of liberties and human rights in the Western Sahara) and President of the El-Ayoune branch of the Association Marocaine des Droits Humains - AMDH (Moroccan Association for Human Rights).
Posted on 2007/11/01
Front Line is concerned about the travel restrictions imposed on the human rights defender, El Ghalia Djimi by the Moroccan authorities. On 12 October 2007, the Moroccan authorities prevented her from leaving Morocco in order to attend meetings with various international organisations, including a forthcoming Front Line conference in Dublin from 22 – 24 November 2007. El Ghalia Djimi is the Vice President of l’Association Sahraouie des Victims des Violations Graves des Droits Humains Commises par l’Etat Marocain – ASVDH (Saharan Association of Victims of Serious Violations of Human Rights Committed by the Moroccan State)
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