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7 innocent Sahrawi students are sentenced to years of prison |
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lunes, 28 mayo 2007 |
El-Ayoune - Western Sahara
Friday May 25, 2007
Seven Sahrawi students, arrested on May 9, 2007, in the university City of Marrakech and imprisoned with the local prison of the same city, appeared, today, Friday May 25, 2007, before the court of first authority of Marrakech. The latter pronounced heavy and unjust sentences against these students.
Thus, the court decided to condemn: - Miss. Sultana KHAYA, pupil at the American arts centre, on conditional release with serious eye injury: eight months prison
- Mr. Abdelfatah ELYADASSIA, studying in 2nd year social sciences, Case N° 88351: one year of firm prison
- Mr. Embeirik DAH, pupil in 6th year sciences, Case N° 88355: one year prison
- Mr. Mohamed ELARBAWI, Case N° 88353: one year prison
- Mr. Hassan FATEH, studying in 1st year Law, Case N° 88356
- Mr. Rachid BENOU, studying in 1st year Law, Case N° 88354: one year prison
- Mr. Mahmoud ELQUEITI, students in 1st year Law, Case N° 88352: one year prison
The trial, with two Spanish observers, Ines MIRANDA and Lola assisted, proceeded under extraordinary conditions. The families of the students were prohibited to enter the courtroom as well as a great number of friends. They asked the defense to protested against these restrictive practices and to withdraw. The students proclaimed their attachment to their defense, however the court pronounced these heavy and unjust sentences at the end of an inequitable lawsuit.
In addition, the Sahrawi political prisoners, in the Black Prison in El-Ayoune, were subjected to a search under blows of bludgeons, by the prison guardians, at 07:00 in the morning of Thursday May 24, 2007. These prisoners, who had hands hands tied, were ill-treated for overfour hours. Their personal belongings were confiscated. According to families of these prisoners, the traces of the shackles are always visible on their hands.
In relation, the Sahrawi political prisoners imprisoned in the local prison of Tiznit were visited by the prosecutor general after the first day of the hunger strike which they had announced. He ordered open an investigation into the complaints of these prisoners, who were gathered by the director of the prison today, Friday May 25, 2007, to inform them that he will respond to their complaints. However, the director of the local prison of Tiznit qualified to these prisoners that the question of isolating them from the ordinary prisoners will take time
AFAPREDESA condems these harsh sentences dictated by the Moroccan ocupation authorities in the name of King Mohammed VI, whom we find responsible for the serious human right violations that occur in the occupied territories.
AFAPREDESA condems and deeply regrets the lack of research done on tortures and other illtreatments caused to Sahrawi students who demonstrated in favour of a free Sahara in Morrocan universities.
AFAPREDESA urgently appeals on the international community: governments and international organizations alike to protest at Morocco´s unjust sentences, which for themselves constitute a violation of basic human rights.
Report written in the Sahrawi Refugee camps on 27th May 007
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Last Updated ( jueves, 31 mayo 2007 )
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