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Western Sahara: René Cassin Human Rights Award presented to Saharawi human rights defender Ms Aminatou Haidarposted on: 2011/12/02

On 30 November 2011, prominent human rights defender Ms Aminatou Haidar was presented with the René Cassin Human Rights Award for 2011 by the Department of Justice of the Basque Regional Government.

Western Sahara: Update – Four human rights defenders interrogated and charged, granted access to their families posted on: 2011/10/13

On 10 October 2011, Western Saharan human rights defenders Messrs Kamal Al Tarayh, Abd Al Aziz Barrai, Al Mahjoub Awlad Al Cheikh and Mohamed Manolo were interrogated by the investigating magistrate in the city of El Aaiún in connection with violent disturbances which took place in in the town of Dakhla during the last week of September.

Western Sahara: UPDATE - Human rights defenders Ali Salem Tamek, Brahim Dahane and Ahmad Anasiri released posted on: 2011/04/15

Front Line welcomes the release (albeit on bail) of three human rights defenders from Western Sahara on 14 April 2011. They are Ali Salem Tamek, first Vice-President of the Sahrawi Collective of Human Rights Defenders (CODESA); Brahim Dahane, President of the Sahrawi Association of Victims of Grave Violations of Human Rights (ASVDH); Ahmad Anasiri, General Secretary of the Sahrawi Committee for the Defence of Human Rights in Smara.

Further Information

The three defenders were arrested along with four others on 8 October 2009 and have been detained since that date. The defenders have undertaken eight hunger strikes in protest against their detention and alleged deprivation of their right to a fair trial. Three of the defenders had intended to start a ninth hunger strike on 14 April.

Western Sahara: UPDATE-Imprisoned human rights defender Mr Yahya Mohamed el Hafed Aaza was transferred to the hospitalposted on: 2011/01/04

On 28 December 2010, human rights defender Mr Yahya Mohamed el Hafed Aaza was transferred from his cell in Ayat-Melol prison in Agadir to the city hospital, following a serious deterioration in his health.

Further Information

Yahya Mohamed el Hafed Aaza, aged 44 and father of three children,is a member of the Tan-Tan Branch of the Association Marocaine des Droits de l'Homme -- AMDH (Moroccan Association of Human Rights), and a member of the constitutive assembly of the Collectif des Défenseurs Sahraouis des Droits de l'Homme - CODESA (Collective of Sahrawi Human Rights defenders).He suffers from various illnesses including rheumatism, asthma, and anemia for which he has spent three months in hospital while in Enzkan prison

On 4 March 2008, Front Line issued an Urgent Appeal concerning the arrest of Yahya Mohamed el Hafed Aaza on 29 February 2008 while working in his shop in Tan-Tan, South Morocco. It was believed that the arrest was related to peaceful pro-independence demonstrations that took place two days earlier in Tan-Tan.

Western Sahara – Human rights defenders Mr Ibrahim Beriaz and Mr Ali Salim Ablagh released while Mr Saeed Al-Wa’ban remains in detention, posted on: 2010/12/17

On 14 December 2010, human rights defenders Mr Ibrahim Beriaz, and Mr Ali Salim Ablagh were released from Bulmaharez prison, Marrakech, having served a two-year prison sentence. A third defender, Mr Saeed Al-Wa'ban remains in custody.

Further Information

The aforementioned defenders were reportedly arrested and brought to trial because of their role campaigning for the human rights of the Sahrawi people, including the right to self determination. In particular this included their participation in peaceful protests.

please see Front Line’s previous appeal on this case

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Western Sahara: UPDATE - Trial of seven human rights defenders adjourned until 5 November 2010 while lawyers and observers were harassed posted on: 2010/10/19

Front Line has received the following update in relation to the case of seven Western Saharan human rights defenders including Mr Ali Salem Tamek, Mr Brahim Dahane and Mr Ahmad Anasiri.

Western Sahara: UPDATE - International observers needed to attend trial of Ali Salem Tamek, Brahim Dahane and Ahmed Anasiri on 15 October 2010, Casablanca posted on: 2010/10/05

Front Line has received the following update in relation to the case of Western Saharan human rights defenders Mr Ali Salem Tamek, Mr Brahim Dahane and Mr Ahmad Anasiri.

Western Sahara: Update - Human rights defenders Ali Salem Tamek, Brahim Dahane and Ahmad Anasiri remain in detention despite court ruling of incompetence posted on: 2010/09/28

On 21 September 2010, the investigating judge of a Moroccan Military Court ordered that the court is incompetent to take jurisdiction over the case of detained human rights defenders Ali Salem Tamek, Brahim Dahane and Ahmad Anasiri. The judge has referred the case back to the Casablanca Penal Court. Nevertheless, the human rights defenders remain in detention.

Western Sahara: Update – Imprisoned human rights defenders Ali Salem Tamek, Brahim Dahane and Ahmad Anasiri announce hunger strikeposted on: 2010/09/23

Three Sahrawi human rights defenders, Mr Ali Salem Tamek, Mr Brahim Dahane and Mr Ahmad Anasiri, have announced that they have decided to go on hunger strike for forty-eight hours – on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th September 2010 - to protest against the lack of response by the Moroccan authorities to their demands regarding their conditions of detention.

Western Sahara: Update - Renewal of arbitrary detention of human rights defenders Ali Salem Tamek, Brahim Dahane and Ahmad Anasiriposted on: 2010/08/18

On 16 August 2010, the investigating judge at the Military Court in Rabat, Morocco renewed the detention of three Sahrawi human rights defenders, namely; Mr Ali Salem Tamek, Mr Brahim Dahane and Mr Ahmad Anasiri.

Western Sahara: Detained Saharawi Defenders send open letter of appreciationposted on: 2010/05/10

The six Sahrawi human rights defenders detained in Salé prison in Morocco have sent an open letter of appreciation for all those who have been campaigning for their release, particularly during their 41 days of hunger strike, including Front Line.

Western Sahara: UPDATE - Human rights defenders on hunger strike in protest at continued arbitrary detentionposted on: 2010/04/07

Front Line has received the following update in relation to the case of Western Saharan human rights defenders Mr Ali Salem Tamek, Mr Brahim Dahane, Mr Ahmad Anasiri, Mr Yahdih Ettarrouzi, Mr Rachid Sghayar and Mr Saleh Lebayhi who continue to be held in detention in Sale prison in Morocco.

Western Sahara: UPDATE - Temporary release of Ms Dagja Lachgar while six other human rights defenders declare hunger strike in detentionposted on: 2010/02/02

On 28 January 2010, Saharawi human rights defender Dagja Lachgar was temporarily released following three months and twenty days in detention in Sale military prison, Morocco. Human rights defender Ali Salem Tamek, Brahim Dahane, Ahmad Anasiri, Yahdih Ettarrouzi, Saleh Lebayhi, and Rachid Sghayar, who remain in detention in Sale prison, have declared that they will commence a 48-hour hunger strike on 4 February 2009, in protest against the ill-treatment that they are subjected to in detention.

Western Sahara: Letter of thanks from Aminatou Haidar to the many organisations and individuals, including Front Line, after her return home.posted on: 2010/01/05

On her return to her home in Western Sahara after 34 days on hunger strike Aminatou Haidar issued the following letter of thanks to Front Line and the many international organisations and individuals who had supported her cause. "The battle has finally ended as we hoped it to end, and the triumphal ship of solidarity has anchored alongside the Saharawi homeland".

Western Sahara: Expelled Sahrawi human rights defender Aminatou Haidar allowed homeposted on: 2009/12/18

Front Line was pleased to receive confirmation today that human rights defender Aminatou Haidar has finally been allowed to return home to her family after 32 days on hunger strike. According to BBC sources Ms Haidar was able to speak to members of the media before boarding the flight. "This is a triumph for international law, for human rights, for international justice and for the cause of the Western Sahara" said Ms Haidar.