On 14 December 2009, human rights defender, Mr Ennaama Asfari was released after serving a four-month sentence in prison, having been found guilty of "contempt toward public officials while in the performance of their duty”.
Human rights defender, Mr Ennaama Asfari, has been informed by the Moroccan authorities that he will face trial on 27 August 2009 at the Tan-Tan court.
On the eve of the trial of Sahrawi human rights defender Yahya Mohamed El Hafed before the Court of Appeal of Agadir, Amnesty International is calling for a prompt and full investigation into torture allegations that marred his trial in first instance. In particular, Amnesty International urges that statements tainted by unexamined allegations of torture are disregarded.
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).
Front Line is concerned following reports that human rights defender, Ms Idagja Lachgare, has been prevented from travelling to Ireland to attend a conference on Western Sahara, scheduled to take place on 3 April 2009. Idagja Lachgare is a member of the executive office of the Association Sahraouie des Victimes des Violations Graves des Droits de l’Homme Commises par l’Etat du Maroc – ASVDH (Sahrawi Association of Victims of Grave Human Rights Violations Committed by the Moroccan State).
Front Line is concerned following reports that human rights defender Mr Chekib El-Khiari remains in detention after being arrested on 17 February 2009. Chekib El-Khiari is a journalist, the Head of the Association for Human Rights (AHR) in the Rif region of Morocco, and a defender of Amazigh (Berber) rights.
Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the sentencing of human rights defender Ennaama Asfari to two months' imprisonment and a fine of 3,000 Dirhams on 28 April 2008. Ennaama Asfari is co-president of the Comité pour le respect des libertés et des droits humains au Sahara occidental - CORELSO (Committee for the respect of liberties and human rights in the Western Sahara). Front Line is also concerned in relation to the expulsion from Morocco of four international observers who were present at the trial of Ennaama Asfari on 21 April 2008.
Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the arrest and detention of human rights defender Ennaama Asfari, co-president of the Comité pour le respect des libertés et des droits humains au Sahara occidental - CORELSO (Committee for the respect of liberties and human rights in the Western Sahara), on 13 April 2008 in Marrakesh.Ennaama Asfari was reportedly subject to torture and ill-treatment by police officers before being brought into police custody. He is currently being detained at the Boulemharez Prison in Marrakesh.
Front Line is deeply concerned following the arbitrary arrest of human rights defender Yahya Mohamed el Hafed Aaza who is a member of the Moroccan Association of Human Rights (AMDH) as well as a member of the constitutive assembly of the Collectif des Défenseurs Sahraouis des Droits de l´Homme (CODESA) (Collective of Saharawi Human Rights defenders).
