Western Sahara – International Observers (including Front Line's Representative) harassed as trial of 7 Sahrawi human rights defenders postponed amid violent scenes.

Press Release

Front Line is deeply concerned at the fact that the trial of 7 Sahrawi human rights defenders, 3 of whom have been in pre-trial detention since October 2009, has again been postponed amid violent scenes, including the harassment and intimidation of the defendants, the defence lawyers and international observers, including the representatives of Front Line, the British Bar Association and the International Commission of Jurists.

Front Line renews its call for the immediate and unconditional release of the 7 human rights defenders on the grounds that they were detained solely on the basis of their legitimate human rights work. “Given the inability of the Moroccan authorities to hold a trial in line with international fair trial standards to date, all 7 defendants should be released immediately” said Mary Lawlor, Executive Director of Front Line in Dublin today.

“In light of the forthcoming renewal of negotiations between Polisario and the Moroccan Authorities the release of the 7 human rights defenders would be a constructive signal of good intent”, she added.

On Friday 05 November as the trial reconvened the Security Services again allowed a large crowd to enter the courtroom so that there was no room for the international observers.

As the trial got under way the people in the public gallery began chanting the Moroccan national anthem – the “Sahara is Moroccan and “Traitors Traitors”. When the four defendants who had been previously been released on provisional liberty and the defence lawyers arrived the crowd tried to attack them

The judge finally left the court because of the noise from the public gallery at which point the crowd started to attack the Sahrawi human rights defenders beating them and shouting insults. In the resulting melée two Spanish journalists were injured.

The Front Line representative demanded urgent protection from the security services for the international observers and they were eventually able to leave the court under police protection. As they left the court the representatives of Front Line, the International Commission of Jurists and the British Bar Association were subjected to a flood of insults as they made their way though the streets from the court.

The hearing was postponed until 17 December 2010 ENDS

For further information please contact

Jim Loughran – Head of Communications

Tel +353 1 212 37 50

Mob +353 1 (0)87 9377586

EMAIL jimloughran@frontlinedefenders.org