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Morocco denies shameful beating of woman human rights defender.

I got news that police were breaking up and beating demonstrators. News came that a woman human rights defender had been badly injured and was asked would I like to see her. I went to the hospital with Eric Sottas, where I took this photo, as she lay waiting to be treated. Her name is Soukainajed Ahlou and she is President of the Forum for Sahrawi women. She was quite badly injured- bloodied and bruised. There seem to be some internal injuries according to a scan taken - I am waiting for exact details.

In an extraordinary coincidence, the car carrying Kerry Kennedy passed the demonstration en route to another meeting. Kerry's 17 year old daughter Moriah quickly took photos including the one of the policeman beating Soukainajed Ahlou. In an attempt to stop her, the policeman reached into the car to grab the camera and in doing do hit her on the face.

Today in the media the Morrocans denied the police beat Soukainajed Ahlou but this time we are witnesses with photographic evidence.

There is nothing unusual about this beating. We have spent 2 days listening to the stories of daily humiliation and fear the Sahrawis live under.

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Sahrawi HRD Aminatou Haidar Statement of Solidarity for Abdulhadi Al-Khawajaposted on: 2012/03/25

The famous human rights defender and member of Front Line Defenders Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja is today beginning his 29th day on hunger strike behind the bars of a prison in Bahrain to demand his right to freedom.

Western Sahara: Arrest, detention and fear of torture and ill-treatment of human rights defender Mr Hasna Al Waliposted on: 2012/01/09

On 6 January 2012, at 10am, human rights defender Mr Hasna Al Wali was arrested in the city of Dakhla by uniformed and plain clothes officers from the Moroccan Judiciary Police.

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: Arrest and pre-trial detention of human rights defender Mr Atiqu Barraiposted on: 2011/11/25

On 14 November 2011, the Moroccan police forces arrested Western Saharan human rights defender Mr Atiqu Barrai near his family home in the town of Dakhla.

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: Arrest and incommunicado detention of four human rights defenders as part of ongoing government crackdownposted on: 2011/10/10

On 2 and 3 October 2011, human rights defenders, Messrs Kamal Al Tarayh, Abd Al Aziz Barrai, Al Mahjoub Awlad Al Cheih and Mohamed Manolo were arrested by the Moroccan authorities in different areas of Dakhla town, Western Sahara. It is reported that they are currently being detained incommunicado and, as such, their current whereabouts are unknown.

Western Sahara: Arrest and incommunicado detention of four human rights defenders as part of ongoing government crackdownposted on: 2011/10/06

On 2 and 3 October 2011, human rights defenders, Messrs Kamal Al Tarayh, Abd Al Aziz Barrai, Al Mahjoub Awlad Al Cheih and Mohamed Manolo were arrested by the Moroccan authorities in different areas of Dakhla town, Western Sahara. It is reported that they are currently being detained incommunicado and, as such, their current whereabouts are unknown.

Further Information

Kamal Al Tarayh is a member of the Western Sahara Observatory, while Abd Al Aziz Barrai, Al Mahjoub Awlad Al Cheih and Mohamed Manolo are all affiliated with the Organisation Against Torture in Dakhla.

On 3 October 2011, at approximately 1 am, Moroccan police arrested Kamal Al Tarayh at his home in the neighbourhood of Umm Al Tunisi. Later that morning, at approximately 6 am, the same police contingent arrested Abd Al Aziz Barrai at his home in the same neighbourhood. On the previous day, Moroccan authorities had arrested Al Mahjoub Awlad Al Cheih and Mohamed Manolo in Dakhla. Reportedly, police did not present any warrants for these arrests.

Western Sahara: Imprisoned human rights defenders begin hunger strikeposted on: 2011/02/25

On 22 February 2011, imprisoned human rights defenders Messrs Ali Salem Tamek, Brahim Dahane and Ahmad Anasiri began a hunger strike in Casablanca prison, demanding access to a fair trial and an improvement of the conditions of their imprisonment, or their unconditional release from detention.

Further Information

Ali Salem Tamek, Brahim Dahane and Ahmad Nasiri were originally arrested, along with four other human rights defenders, at Mohammed V Airport, Casablanca, on 8 October 2009 following a visit to a Saharawi refugee camp in Algeria.

Western Sahara: Imprisoned saharawi human rights defenders begin new open hunger strike

A Front Line contact in Western Sahara sends this report on the latest developments in the trial of imprisoned Saharawi human rights defenders Ali Salem Tamek, Brahim Dahane and Ahmad Nasiri, who have announced a new hunger strike in protest at their ongoing imprisonment and the deferral of their trial to an unspecified date.

"The Saharawi Human Rights Defenders and prisoners of conscience - Ali Salem Tamek, Brahim Dahane and Ahmad Nasiri - have started an open hunger strike on Tuesday 22 Feb 2011, in Casablanca prison. They demand their right to a fair trial or their unconditional release.

This is their 6th hunger strike since their arrest and the third one in Casablanca prison after they were transferred from Salé prison. Their trial has been continuously postponed.

The three Saharawi political prisoners are still under arrest without any verdict. Ever since their first hunger strike – which lasted 41 days – they’ve been demanding their right for a fair trial or to be unconditionally released.

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