Sahrawi human rights defenders

Original Report

Seven defenders were arrested at Mohammad IV Airport in Casablanca, Morocco on 8 October 2009. Front Line reported its concern about the arrest of the defenders on 9 October. The defenders work for various human rights organisations in Western Sahara, including the Sahrawi Collective of Human Rights Defenders (CODESA), the Sahrawi Association of Victims of Grave Violations of Human Rights (ASVDH), the Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH), the Forum for the Protection of Sahrawi Children, the Action Committee Against Torture in Dakhla/Western Sahara, and the Sahrawi Committee for the Defence of Human Rights in Smara. Their names are Mr. Brahim Dahane, Mr. Yahdih Ettarrouzi, Mr. Rachid Sghayar, Mr Ali Salem Tamek, Mr Ahmad Anasiri, Mr Saleh Lebayhi, and Ms. Dagja Lachgar.

The families of the seven defenders are still waiting for permits to visit their relatives for the first time since their arrest. According to the families, the police officially informed them about the arrest on Monday 12 October, four days after the arrest. Some of the families were called by the police, others by the Office of the Representative of the King.

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