Western Sahara: Systematic repression of human rights defenders
Take Action
Please take action on behalf of human rights defenders, members of the Trade Union of Workers of the National University of Honduras.
Copy the enclosed letter amd send to the address provided.
Thank you for takign action on behalf of members of the Trade Union of Workers of the National University of Honduras
Mohammed VI,
Bureau du Roi,
Palais Royal,
Rabat,
Morocco
Your Majesty,
Following Front Line's recent visit to Western Sahara from 15 to 22 September 2008, I express my serious concern in relation to repressive practices against human rights defenders in Western Sahara. These include intrusive surveillance of defenders, the imposition of obstacles to registration of non-governmental organisations, physical attacks and arbitrary detentions, such as the wave of arrests carried out on 21 September following a peaceful demonstration in the town of Smara.
According to information received, on 21 September 2008, as Front Line was visiting the region, a group of Western Saharan activists, which included human rights defenders, organised a peaceful demonstration in the town of Smara, following which the Moroccan security services launched a campaign of arbitrary detentions of several defenders and attacked several homes. To date, one human rights defender, Alshayki Brahim, remains in detention at the El-Ayoune prison.
I believe that the systematic repression of Western Saharan human rights defenders is directly related to their legitimate and non-violent work in defence of human rights, in particular the exercise of the right to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression. I express my concern for the physical and psychological integrity of all the human rights defenders involved, as well as that of their families.
I call on the authorities in Morocco to:
1.Grant the immediate and unconditional release of Alshayki Brahim as he is being detained solely on the basis of his legitimate non-violent human rights work;
2.Conduct an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the arbitrary arrest and detention of human rights defenders in Smara, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards;
3.Take measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Alshayki Brahim while in detention, as well as that of all the human rights defenders and their families;
4.Permit the registration of Western Saharan non-governmental organisations;
5.Take measures to ensure that all human rights defenders in Western Sahara, carrying out their legitimate work in human rights, are able to operate free of all restrictions and harassment.
Sincerely,
