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).

Further Information

Posted 06/03/2008 On 29 February 2008, Yahya Mohamed el Hafed Aaza was arrested while working in his shop in Tan-Tan, Southern Morocco. It is believed that the arrest is related to peaceful pro-independence demonstrations that took place two days earlier in Tan-Tan. Yahya Mohamed el Hafed Aaza is currently being held in the Tan-Tan police station for interrogation and has yet to be charged. He is reportedly being denied access to his lawyer and visits from his family.

Yahya Mohamed el Hafed Aaza has previously been the subject of acts of intimidation. In 2004 and 2006 he was arrested by the Moroccan Military Intelligence, and in 2005 he was reportedly kidnapped by the Moroccan Military Intelligence for two weeks, during which time he was subjected to torture.

Front Line believes that Yahya Mohamed el Hafed Aaza has been arrested as a result of his legitimate human rights activities. Front Line is also concerned for his physical and psychological integrity while detained and fears that he may be subject to torture and ill-treatment.