On February
17, after more than two years of detention and a politically charged trial, a
Moroccan Military Court in Rabat convicted 25 Sahrawi, including several
well-known human rights activists, of offenses relating to violence during the
dismantling of the Gdeim Izik protest camp by Moroccan security forces in 2010.
The military court handed down sentences ranging from 20 years to life in
prison to 23 of the Sahrawi. Today, those prisoners were beaten with batons and
some of them put in isolation once they arrived in Salé prison where they will
be serving out their sentences.
Two
defendants were sentenced to two years prison -- the time already served in
pretrial detention -- and released. Those Sahrawi whom local organizations
identify as human rights defenders received the harshest sentences, including a
life sentence for one defendant in absentia who was previously tried and
acquitted of the same crime by another tribunal.
"Morocco's
failure to earnestly and impartially investigate claims that the defendants
were subjected to torture and its refusal to transfer the trial to a civilian
court capable of handling the matter are violations of fundamental fair trial
standards and of Morocco's obligations under international law," said
Santiago A. Canton, Director of RFK Partners for Human Rights.
"International law prohibits military courts from prosecuting civilians
for ordinary crimes, as they present serious problems for due process and the
independent administration of justice."
In November
2010, the government of Morocco violently dismantled the Gdeim Izik protest
camp leaving 13 dead, including 11 Moroccan security agents. The Gdeim Izik
camp was erected in October 2010 by thousands of Sahrawi on the outskirts of
Laayoune, in Moroccan-controlled Western Sahara. Considered as the precursor of
the "Arab Spring," the camp was set up in protest against the poor
economic and social conditions faced by the Sahrawi community. Moroccan
authorities have yet to investigate credible claims that the accused were
subject to torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment at the time of
their arrest and throughout their detention.
Contact:
Cate Urban
Web
Communications & Social Media Manager
RFK Center
for Justice & Human Rights
Email:
urban@rfkcenter.org
ACT NOW:
Join RFK Center President and Academy Award Winner Javier Bardem in calling for
the end of human rights violations in Western Sahara:
http://rfkcenter.org/working-with-javier-bardem-for-justice-in-western-sahara!
Sem comentários:
Enviar um comentário