Sentenced to 3 years imprisonment, Mustapha is transferred to Inzegan prison

The Saharawi writer and journalist, member of UPES, Mustapha AbdDaiem, was transferred yesterday to the local prison of Inzegan (Agadir-Morocco), where he was immediately handcuffed and put in punishment cell. The Saharawi Journalists’ and Writers’ Union (UPES), consider this practice exercised against the Saharawi journalist and activist as an act of vengeance from the Moroccan colonial authorities against Mustapha. Moroccan colonial court in the city of Gulemim (South of Morocco) sentenced the Saharawi journalist and writer, Mustapha AbdDaiem, Tuesday 4 November, to 3 years imprisonment and 5000 Moroccan dirham fine, because of his political opinions. Mr. Mustapha AbdDaiem is an active human rights activist, and member of UPES (Saharawi Journalists’ and Writers’ Union), who usually unveils and condemns the Moroccan human rights violations in the occupied zones of Western Sahara, in the South of Morocco and in Moroccan universities against Saharawi students. He was kidnapped last Monday 27 October in the city of Assa, after he clearly supported some Saharawi demonstrators, who were victims of Moroccan police violence. The Saharawi journalist entered the Moroccan court raising his hands in sign of victory and chanting slogans in favour of the independence of Western Sahara. He openly declared that the Moroccan police has falsified all his statements during the interrogatory, and asked the Moroccan judge not to consider any of the false information presented by the criminal police. The Moroccan judge, however, didn’t take note of the victim’s declaration and quickly sentenced him to three years imprisonment after a brief break. The lawyers of the Saharawi journalist were surprised and declared that the trial lacked the most fundamental condition of fair judgment. It should be noted that the sister of the Saharawi journalist was arrested the same day, in the occupied city of Dakhla some 1400 km south the city where her brother was arrested. The Saharawi Journalists’ and Writers’ Union (UPES) condemned this new violation of Saharawi people’s most fundamental rights, and called on all international human rights organizations and trade unions to support the Saharawi journalist in his plight. UPES informs all concerned that it will soon start an international campaign for the support to the Saharawi journalist, AbdDaiem, and for his immediate and unconditional release. And ask all friends and lovers of justice to support this action.