Western Saharan rights defender, Ennaâma ASFARI, suddenly relased by Moroccan authorities

13 Jun 2008 | Information/Update, Political Prisoners

Ennaâma ASFARI

We have just learned that the Western Saharan human rights defender and co-chairman of CORELSO (Committee for the respect of liberties and human rights in Western Sahara), Mr. Ennaâma ASFARI, was released today, Friday, June 13, 2008, around 10h00 am (GMT +1). Mr. ASFARI, who should have been released on June 16, after serving his sentence of two months’ imprisonment (and the same day of his trial on appeal) was surprised by the director of the local Moroccan prison in Marrakesh who announced his release.

When Mr. ASFARI tried to understand the reason for his release before the end of his imprisonment, the director told him that, in his case, the law should not necessarily be respected and that he has received orders from officials to release him. When Mr. ASFARI claimed his belongings, the director replied that superiors took them and he can not give their names.

We recall that Mr. ASFARI was arrested on April 13, 2008, in Marrakesh, Morocco. After being taken to various places of detention, where he suffered mistreatment, he was presented to the general prosecutor on April 15 and has been incarcerated since April 17, 2008, in the Moroccan prison Boulemharez in Marrakesh. On Monday, 28 April 2008 Mr. ASFARI was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment and a fine of three thousand dirhams (3.000.00) by the court of first instance of Marrakesh.