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.
Further Information
Posted 20/06/2008 Brahim Sabbar is the Secretary General of the ASVDH, an independent human rights organisation which has been denied registration by the Moroccan authorities.
On 17 June 2008, at approximately 5.00am, Brahim Sabbar was released after two years in the Civil Prison of El-Ayoune. He had been arrested along with Ahmed Sbai, a member of the Advisory Council of the ASVDH and a member of the Comité pour la Protection des Détenus de la Prison Noire, on 17 June 2006 in Boujdour, Western Sahara, following an inaugural meeting of the Boujdour branch of the ASVDH. Both of them were arrested shortly after the ASVDH published a 121-page report that details allegations of arbitrary arrests, torture and ill-treatment in Western Sahara. On 27 June 2006, Brahim Sabbar and Ahmed Sbai received prison sentences. Between 1981 and 1991 Brahim Sabbar was held in isolated detention at the secret prison of Kalaat Megouna where various members of the ASVDH have also been held. Ahmed Sbai was released upon the termination of his sentence on 17 December 2007.
Early in the morning of 17 June 2008, Brahim Sabbar was at the home of Ahmed Sbai. The house was surrounded by police officers who allowed Sidi Mohammed Dadach to enter but he was violently attacked as he was leaving by approximately fifteen Moroccan police officers in plain clothes. Sidi Mohammed Dadach is the president of the Sahrawi Committee for the Support to the Right to Self-Determination. He has spent over twenty years in prison, making him one of the longest-held prisoners of conscience in Morocco, and received in 2002 the Rafto Award for his work in defence of the human rights of the Sahrawi people.
A number of human rights defenders and members of the ASVDH were not allowed to enter the house at all. Among them were Brahim Dahane, ASVDH President; Bachir Lekhfawni and Dahha Rahmouni, members of the Executive Office of the ASVDH; Najat Akhnibila and Mohammed Fadel Afreitis, members of the ASVDH.
At approximately 10.00am, Brahim Sabbar left Ahmed Sbai's home to go to the home of another ASVDH member, Embarek Hiji. Embarek Hiji's house was surrounded by Moroccan police officers and people were again prevented from visiting him. Ahmed Sbai, who was accompanying Brahim Sabbar, was also prevented from approaching the house.
Front Line believes that Brahim Sabbar and those wishing to visit him, including members of the ASVDH, have been targeted as a result of their legitimate work in the defence of human rights, in particular their work to defend the human rights of the Sahrawi people. Front Line is concerned that this is part of an ongoing trend of harassment against human rights defenders in Western Sahara. Front Line is concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of all members of the ASVDH.
Action Finished:
This Urgent Appeal has now ended. No further action is requested at this point. Thank you for taking action on this case.
Front Line issues Urgent Appeals on behalf of human rights defenders at risk on a daily basis. These Appeals normally remain active on our web site for a period of up to six weeks, depending on the situation. After this time they will be archived. Front Line maintains a watching brief on all these cases but no further action is requested after the six weeks, unless there is a significant development in the case.
