Activist who appeared on BBC documentary starts hunger strike
A human rights campaigner who spoke out against the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara on BBC documentary Tropic of Cancer, broadcast last night, has begun a hunger strike in the Moroccan prison where he has been jailed for over 5 months.
Rachid Sghir, a member of the Committee Action against Torture, was arrested along with six other human rights defenders on 8th October 2009 following a visit to the Saharawi refugee camps in Algeria . The seven are awaiting a military tribunal on the charge of treason. If found guilty Sghir and his colleagues could face the death penalty.
The UN has a duty to protect people like Rachid Sghir. The UN mission in occupied Western Sahara (MINURSO) is the only contemporary UN mission in the world that does not have a mandate to monitor human rights. It's mandate is coming up for review in April, call on the UN to do it's duty and introduce human rights monitoring. Action needs to be taken now to ensure that Morocco no longer commits widespread human rights violations with impunity.
Click here to find out how you can help Rachid Sghir and the people of Western Sahara. Take Action now!
Days after giving an secret interview to a BBC camera crew in Western Sahara, Sghir was detained by the Moroccan police, questioned about his activities including the interview with the BBC, and severely beaten. In the BBC interview he had criticised the unlawful 35 year Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara and the resulting human rights abuses suffered by Saharawi people.
Some months after his BBC interview, Sghir had travelled with six other human rights activists to visit the refugee camps at Tindouf. They were arrested on their return and have been imprisoned ever since. On 18th March they launched a hunger strike.
In a statement on 18th March the hunger strikers state:
“Our detention has been condemned by governments and parliaments around the world as well as human rights organisations, trade unions and civil society groups. We are being persecuted for exercising our right to express political opinion and engage in legitimate activities to protect the human rights of our people. In protest at our detention we are today beginning an open hunger strike in order to expedite our claim to a fair trial and our release without condition. We call on democratic forces in the world to support our fight for our release and that of all Saharawi political prisoners held in Moroccan jails.
Speaking on the BBC website, presenter Simon Reeve, who interviewed Sghir, said:
"It's a beautiful area of the world, but also home to a great deal of injustice. It was humbling to meet Sghir and other democracy campaigners and human rights activists who put their freedom on the line daily to battle for rights that we in Britain can take for granted.”
Stefan Simanowitz, chair of the Free Western Sahara Network said:
"The BBC documentary shown last night highlights the reality for the Saharawi people, forced to live either under brutal occupation or in desolate refugee camps for over three decades. When brave people like Rachid Sghir speak out they are thrown into prison. We demand that he and the six other human rights activists imprisoned in Rabat, either be released immediately and without condition or at the very least, receive a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal as required under Article 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."
Click here to see the BBC interview Click here to read the BBC news story
The prisoners in Sale prison Rabat are:
1) Brahim Dahane, President of the Saharawi Association of Victims of Serious Violations Committed by Morocco (ASVDH); 2) Ali Salem Tamek , First Vice President of the Collective of Saharawi Human Rights Defenders (CODESA) and member of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH); 3) Ahmad Anasiri: General Secretary of the Saharawi Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in Smara and President of AMDH Smara Chapter; 4) Ms. Dagja Lachgar, Member of the Executive Office of ASVDH; 5) Yahdih Ettarrouzi, Member of AMDH Laayounne Chapter; 6) Saleh Lebayhi: President of the Forum for Protection of Saharawi Children and member of the Laayoune Chapter of CODESA and AMDH; and 7) Rachid Sghayar, Member of Committee Action against Torture
WESTERN SAHARA CAMPAIGN UK
The Western Sahara Campaign works in solidarity with the Saharawi people to generate political support in order to advance their right to self-determination and to promote their human rights.
Our role is to lobby the UK Government and the EU. You can help us to ensure the UK does not ignore the voice of the Saharawi people.
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