Moroccans beat 11 Saharawi human rights activists

Moroccans beat 11 Saharawi human rights activists in El Aaiun upon their return from a visit to the Saharawi refugee camps

Hundreds Moroccan settlers, backed by police attacked 11 Saharawi human rights activists upon their landing at the airport of the occupied capital of Western Sahara, ill-treating them and stripping them naked under the orders of the Moroccan police to beat them.

The Moroccan authorities deliberately hindered the travel of a group of foreign observers who were booking in the same plane to return with the activists to occupied Western Sahara. They also deliberately delayed the delivery of the luggage of the 11 activists until the rest of the passengers left the airport, so the Moroccan settlers could have complete access to the activists in the absence of any witnesses except the Moroccan police.

The victims are: Mr. Sidi Mohamed Dadach (24 years imprisonment in Moroccan secret detentions), Mrs. Sukeina Jad Ahlu (12 years in Moroccan secret detention camp), Mrs. Najat Khneibili (10 years in Moroccan secret detention camp), Ms. Sultana Khaya (who lost an eye after being beaten by Moroccan police) Ms. Aajina Bouhan, Ms. Fakka Abdadi, Mr. Hamada Ismaili, Mr. Hasanna El Wali, Mr. El Mahjoub Aoulad Cheikh, Mrs. Ameilmnin Sueyah, Ms. Fadah Aghla Manhum.

The activists were retruning from a visit to the Saharawi refugee camps, where they spent many days meeting their families, and investigating the truth about the situation in the camps.

A group of 7 Saharawi human rights activists, who did the same trip last September 2009, was arrested by the Moroccan authorities at the airport of Casablanca last Octoberthe 8 and is actually in the prison of Sale waiting a military court, accused by the Moroccan colonial authorities of treason. 5 of these 7 activists, 19 political prisoners in the prison of Tiznit, 3 in Marakech prison, 2 in Taroudant prison, 2 in Qnitra prison, and 1 in Bensliman. In total 32 Saharawi political prisoners are in an unlimited hunger strike protesting against the Moroccan colonial presence in Western Sahara and the human rights violations, including the violation of the prisoners rights as prisoners of conscience.

ENDS

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