Moroccan authorities brutalized the six hunger-striking young Saharawis Today evening in the Moroccan airport of Agadir. UPES denounces this new Moroccan act of violence and irresponsibility.
Here is a press release issued on the regrettable development:
UPES denounces Moroccan brutality against six young Saharawis in Agadir
The Moroccan authorities brutally intervened to break a peaceful protest of six young Saharawis in the airport of Agadir instead of positively responding to the wide protest and disapproval to their prevention from traveling to London, where they were expected to participate to an international event called Talk Together, organized from 5th 18th August in St Edwards School, Oxford.
Around 18.00 Moroccos time, Moroccan police suddenly assaulted the three young girls and boys, who were sitting in hunger-strike in the airport terminal for the last 30 hours. Then it forced them out of the airport and into a Mercedes Taxi matriculated 8? 1352.
The Saharawi Journalists and Writers Union (UPES) couldnt communicate with the victims, but was able to collect information thanks to witnesses and contacts, who indicated that the Moroccan police automatically confiscated the victims phones and turned them off.
Once put in the car, the six victims were escorted by some 10 police cars out of the city of Agadir heading south. About two hours later UPESs contacts in Gulmim (200 km south of Agadir) indicated that the cortege entered the city at about 20.30 but didnt stop. It rather continued the trip south.
A press release issued by the Collective of Saharawi Human Rights Defenders (CODESA) estimated that the Moroccan police are probably taking the six young people to the occupied capital of Western Sahara, El Aaiun, but none can still affirm that they will be released or not.
UPES vigorously condemns this Moroccan irresponsible attitude and considers the Moroccan government accountable of the physical and moral safety of the six girls and boys who committed no crime, and who didnt deserve to be brutalized and ill-treated that way.
It calls on all human rights activists, organizations and journalists who had been able to follow the issue from the beginning to remain alert until the families of the victims confirm they are safe.
It also considers that additional and more concrete pressures should be exercised on Morocco to allow the six young people to travel to London to participate to the event.
UPES also recall Talk Together and all the organizations and parties involved in the organization of the dialogue in London that they should stay alert, and that they should also ask about the news of 7 Moroccan students who were also prevented from taking part to the same event, and of whom no news were revealed so far.
