On 27 August 2009, human rights defender, Mr Ennaama Asfari was sentenced to four months imprisonment by a court in Tan Tan, South Morocco having been found guilty of "contempt toward public officials while in the performance of their duty.”

Three international observers and several Sahrawi lawyers attended the trial, however other Sahrawi human rights defenders were arrested, ill-treated and held for six hours at a police station to prevent them attending the trial.

The human rights defenders who were arrested included Ms. Sultana Khayya, vice president of Forum Future for Sahrawi Women (FAFESA), Mr. Brahim Dahane, president of Sahrawi Association of Victims of Grave Human Rights Violations (ASVDH), Mr. Brahim Sabbar, Secretary General of ASVDH, Mr Mohamed Mayara, member of ASVDH, Mr. Ahmed Sba'i, secretary general of the League for the Protection of Sahrawi Prisoners (LPPS) and Mr. Yahdih Tarrouzi, member of the Organization of Defenders Sahrawi Human Rights (ODS).

At the same time, Mr. Hassanna Aalia, member of the Committee against Torture, was reportedly assaulted by security men and transferred to hospital. Three days earlier, during the second hearing of the same trial on 24 August 2009, Hassanna Aalia was reportedly subjected to a brief abduction by security men during which he was assaulted before being left in Smara, a few miles away from Tan Tan.

Front Line is deeply concerned by the ongoing harassment and intimidation of Sahrawi human rights defenders.

For background details of this case please refer to: Original Front Line appeal on behalf of Mr Ennaama Asfari