Case History: Mohamed Baiza
The upcoming trial of human rights defender Mohamed Baiza will take place on 9 November 2015.
He was released on bail on 22 October by the Court of Appeals in El Ayoun and faces charges of forming a criminal gang, obstructing public ways, insulting public officials and using violence against them, and participation in an armed mob.
Mohamed Baiza has been involved in several peaceful protests calling for the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination.
The upcoming trial of human rights defender Mr Mohamed Baiza will take place on 9 November 2015.
He was released on bail on 22 October by the Court of Appeals in El Ayoun and faces charges of forming a criminal gang, obstructing public ways, insulting public officials and using violence against them, and participation in an armed mob.
On 16 October 2015 Moroccan police arrested human rights defenders Mr Mohamed Baiza and Mr Abdeslam Loumadi in Agadir. They were both detained at a police station in Agadir. However Abdeslam Loumadi was released two days later by the crown prosecutor at the Court of First Instance. Mohamed Baiza was transferred to a police station in El Ayoun, as this was where the arrest warrant was issued. He was subjected to interrogation for more than 72 hours, prior to appearing before the investigating judge and the attorney general at the Court of Appeals on 22 October 2015. The human rights defender was temporarily released on that same day and is due to appear before the investigating judge on 9 November 2015. He faces charges of forming a criminal gang, obstructing public ways, insulting public officials and using violence against them, and participation in an armed mob.
Mohamed Baiza had previously been detained on 8 May 2012 in El Ayoun and sentenced by the Court of Appeals to one year imprisonment. He was released on 9 May 2013 from Ait Maloul prison in Agadir. Abdeslam Loumadi was subjected to several arbitrary detentions, the last of which was on 21 January 2014, when he was arrested in his family home by the National Brigade for the Judicial Police (BNPJ) in El Ayoun. He was detained for approximately 72 hours at one of the police stations of the BNPJ prior to appearing before the attorney general and investigating judge at the Court of Appeals on 24 January 2014. The human rights defender was held in a local prison, charged with forming a criminal gang, obstructing public ways, insulting public officials and using violence against them, and participation in an armed mob.
