Morocco / Western Sahara: Arrest of seven human rights defenders in Casablanca
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.
The group of arrested defenders include Ali Salem Tamek, first Vice-President of the Saharawi Collective of Human Rights Defenders (CODESA); Brahim Dahane, President of the Sahrawi Association of Victims of Grave Violations of Human Rights (ASVDH); Ahmad Anasiri, General Secretary of the Saharawi Committee for the Defence of Human Rights in Smara; Yahdih Ettarrouzi; Saleh Lebayhi, President of the Forum for the Protection of Saharawi Children; Dagja Lachgar, and Rachid Sghayar. The seven defenders work for various human rights organisations in Western Sahara, including CODESA, ASVDH, the Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH), the Forum for the Protection of Saharawi Children, the Action Committee Against Torture in Dakhla/Western Sahara, and the Saharawi Committee for the Defence of Human Rights in Smara. They had been travelling from Alhawari Boumedyan Airport in Algeria. Their whereabouts are unknown.
At about 2.00pm on 8 October 2009, the aforementioned human rights defenders, travelling from Algeria on flight number AT561, were arrested immediately after their plane had landed in Mohamed V Airport. They were reportedly taken from the main door of the plane by Moroccan security agents and taken by car to an unknown location. Another group of human rights defenders reported a high police presence at the airport as they waited for several hours for their colleagues without success. It is thought that the arrest of the seven human rights defenders may be linked to the visits they had made to Sahrawi refugee camps in south-west Algeria during their stay abroad.
Front Line believes that the arrest of these seven human rights defenders is directly related to their work in the defence of human rights, particularly in Morrocan-administered Western Sahara. Front Line is seriously concerned for their physical and psychological integrity.
Front Line urges the authorities in Morocco to:
1. Immediately and unconditionally release Ali Salem Tamek, Brahim Dahane, Ahmad Anasiri, Saleh Lebayhi, Dagja Lachgar, Rachid Sghayar and Yahdih Ettarrouzi as Front Line believes that they are being held solely as a result of their legitimate and peaceful work in the defence of human rights;
2. Take all necessary measures to guarantee their physical and psychological integrity;
3. Guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders in Western Sahara and in Morocco are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions.
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.
