The Women from the Africa´s last colony: Western Sahara express strong condemnation to the veredict of the Moroccan Military Court against the 25 saharawi human rights activists .
Last saturday night, February 17th, the Rabab Military Court issued the ignominious sentences which we consider as unfair and injust because it violates the international law and the most basic human rights principals and because they are civil citizens not militaries.
The Moroccan military court of Rabat issued Saturday night to Sunday unfair sentences against the 24 Saharawi political prisoners, known as Gdeim Izik group, ranging from two years to life in prison, informed the Saharawi activist Al-Mami Amar Salem from outside of Rabat military court.
According to the source, the court sentenced Abdeljalil Lamgeimad, Abdallahi Lajfawni, Brahim Ismaili, Lamjaid Sidahmed, Boutangiza Mohamed Bachir, Sbaii Ahmed, Mohamed Bani, Abdalla Abbah to life imprisonment, while it sentenced Hasanna Alia to life in prison in absentia.
30-year prison terms against Annama Lasfari, Hasan Addah, Mohamed Bourial and Banga Sheikh.
25-year jail terms against Jouna Babit, Lafgir Mohamed Mbarek, Al-Bakay Al-Arabi, Lajdair Mohamed Mbarek, Al-Husein Azzawi, Haddi Mohamed Al-Amin, Toubali Abadallahi and Daf Deich.
20-year prison enforce against Mohamed Al-Ayubi, Jadda Al-Bachir and Mohamed Tahlil.
20-year prison enforce against Mohamed Al-Ayubi, Jadda Al-Bachir and Mohamed Tahlil.
Abderhman Zaiu and Tagi Mashdufi sentenced to two years in jail, they have already served their terms in custody, so they were released.
In their last speeches during the trial, the group reaffirmed that they are political prisoners advocating for the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination, expressing thanks and recognition for lawyers, international observers and Saharawi families who have been rallying since the beginning of the trial outside the court, in Saharawi cities, south Morocco and in the Saharawi refugees.
To recall, the group was arrested following the Moroccan military attack on Gdeim Izik protest camp on 8 November 2010.
The 24 Saharawi political prisoners are accused of “hurting internal and external security of the state, forming a criminal group and assaulting public officials during the performance of their functions.”
These charges were categorically denied by the group during 4 days of the hearing.
These charges were categorically denied by the group during 4 days of the hearing.
Several international human rights organizations, intellectuals and lawyers called for the “unconditional release” of the group, and denounced the trying of civilians before a martial court.
The trial, opened on Feb 1st, attended by several international observers. It was highly condemned nationally, internationally and inside Morocco.
Saharawi women launch an urgent appeal to the international community and mainly the European Unión´s governments to put pressure on the moroccan government to release the 25 saharawi human rights activists and also to demend the UN Security Council to give MINURSO´s mandate to monitorize the human rights in the occupied Western Sahara, ilegally occupied by the Kingdom of Morocco sice more than 38 years ago.
