An international association asks for the release of the Saharawi prisoner of conscience

07/10/2008

The International campaign for the release of the Saharawi prisoners of conscience, called for the support to its petition on line so as to put additional pressures on the Moroccan state to release the Saharawi prisoners, according to a press release published by the Saharawi Association of the Victims of the Flagrant Human Rights Violations Committed by the Moroccan State (ASVDH). ASVDH, which is a member in the international campaign, strongly condemned the Moroccan forces’ attacks against the Saharawi prisoners of conscience, mainly Mohamed Tahlil (member of ASVDH) and Mr. Lehbib Elgasmi, who are deprived of the right to receive visits from their families. It also demanded from Morocco to renounce its repressive practices and start investigations on the latest events of the occupied city of Smara and on the latest campaign of illegal arrests in the occupied city of El Aaiun. ASVDH called on the UN to include the promotion and protection of human rights in the mandate of the UN Mission for the organisation of a referendum in Western Sahara.