Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the arrest of human rights defender Hammoud Iguilid on 10 May 2008. Hammoud Iguilid is a member of the secretariat of the Collectif des Défenseurs Sahraouis des Droits de l´Homme - CODESA (Committee for the respect of liberties and human rights in the Western Sahara) and President of the El-Ayoune branch of the Association Marocaine des Droits Humains - AMDH (Moroccan Association for Human Rights).

Further Information

Posted 13/05/2008 On 10 May 2008, at approximately 20:00, Hammoud Iguilid was reportedly arrested by four plainclothes policemen in El-Ayoune. He was blindfolded and handcuffed and forced into a police car where he was subject to physical abuse. He was interrogated for over an hour by police officers about the participation of the El-Ayoune branch of the AMDH in the events of Labour Day on 1 May 2008. Hammoud Iguilid was released in a remote area on the outskirts of the city. Some of his personal belongings were confiscated by the police, including his money, his bank card and some bank documents.

Hammoud Iguilid was previously arrested in March 2008 when he was also subject to interrogation regarding the activities of the AMDH.

Front Line believes that the arrest of Hammoud Iguilid is directly related to his peaceful and legitimate activities in the defence of human rights. Front Line is concerned for the security and physical and psychological integrity of Hammoud Iguilid and all members of the AMDH.