Saharawi political prisoners in the Carcel negra (Black Jail) of El Aaiun, launched an appeal to the international community to pressure Rabat so as to conform with the principles of the “conventions, treaties and human rights accords Morocco has ratified”. The Saharawi political prisoners indicated, in a communiqué they publicised Friday, that “it is time to put an end to human rights violations in Western Sahara and to judge the persons responsible of crimes perpetrated against Saharawi population in occupied territories of Western Sahara”.

Torture and inhuman treatment for decades
They also “energetically condemned the exactions committed by Morocco against the Saharawi population in occupied territories, especially arbitrary judgements, systematic practice of torture and other inhuman and deteriorating treatment exercised during over than three decades”. The Saharawi detainees had beside expressed their sympathy to the two prisoners; Mahmoud Moustafa Haddad and Mohamed Ould Chiaa, who had recently been savagely tortured with their families by Moroccan authorities of occupation.

500 disappeared, 226 prisoners of war
On another hand, the Union of Saharawi Jurists (UJS) and the Association of the Families of Saharawi Prisoners and Disappeared (AFAPREDESA) called Monday to the release of all Saharawi political detainees in Moroccan prisons, on the occasion of the international day of solidarity with the reported missing. These associations report on more that 500 Saharawi disappeared and some 226 prisoners of war, whose fate is still unaccounted for by Morocco.

Rafto Prize 2002
The human rights activist Sidi Mohammed Daddach from Western Sahara received the Rafto Prize in 2002. The human rights award was a support to the Saharawi people’s fight for human rights and self-determination. Sidi Mohammed Daddach is a strong symbol for his people’s tale of own sufferings and their battle for independence. He stands out as a moderate voice who builds bridges for the future. In spite of having spent more than half his life as a prisoner of conscience, Daddach has never given up the fight for human rights and dignity.

The Rafto Prize to Sidi Mohammed Daddach came at a time when an alarming number of Sahrawi civil society activists, many of whom are perceived to have pro-independence tendencies, were persecuted by the Moroccan authorities. The persecution of peaceful opponents of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara remains a serious blemish on their human rights record. Some have been arrested, remanded into custody and brought to trial on apparently politically motivated charges. Others have been arrested and released after being questioned about their alleged support of the Polisario Front. Several are reportedly denied a passport. Our thoughts go to those who, at this very moment, are working under the most difficult conditions, being victims of persecution, torture, harassment and intimidation by the Moroccan authorities.

 

Source:
Sept 04 SPS © Sahara Press Service