Western Sahara: Update: Human rights defender Yahya Mohamed el Hafed assaulted after 15 year sentence confirmed
On 24 June 2009, the Agadeer Appeal Court confirmed the 15 year sentence against human rights defender Mr. Yahya Mohamed el Hafed. According to the information received, the day after the court session, Yahya Mohamed el Hafed was subjected to physical assault by the guards at the Ayat-Melol prison, where his head was hit against the wall.
Further Information
As a result of this injury Yahya needed seven stitches to the back of his head.
According to the source, the assault took place on 25 June 2009 when Yahiya objected to all his clothes being stripped off before being allowed to meet his relatives who were in the waiting room. Eventually, the visit was called off, his relatives were told by the prison administration that Yahya did not want to meet them.
Front Line is seriously concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of human rights defender Yahya Mohamed el Hafed and calls for his release since it believes that the persecution against him was directly related to his work in the defense of human rights and influenced by the political dispute related to the Western Sahara.
For more information, please refer to the original appeal and previous updates, including:
Last Update: Human rights defender Yahya Mohamed el Hafed in critical condition