HRW denounces Morocco's human rights violation in Western Sahara


Geneva, January 25, 2011 - Human Rights Watch (HRW) has denounced in its 2010 report the human rights violation committed by Morocco in the occupied territories of Western Sahara.

"Restrictions on rights are particularly tight in the restive Western Sahara region, which Morocco claims sovereignty over and administers as if it were part of its national territory," HRW said in its latest report.

The Moroccan government "used repressive legislation to punish and imprison peaceful opponents, especially those who violate taboos against criticizing the King or the monarchy, questioning the 'Moroccanness' of Western Sahara," the report denounced.

The organization of Human Rights recalled in this connection that "over the years the Moroccan authorities have imprisoned many peaceful advocates of the position of a public referendum that includes the option of independence for Western Sahara."

HRW cited in this context, the example of Gdeim Izik camp near occupied El Aaiun, where Moroccan authorities undertook a violent crackdown in November, killing and wounding hundreds of Saharawi civilians.

"This operation sparked violent resistance (...) and left new victims, including many Sahrawi men and women, brutally beaten by (Moroccan) police, while they were placed in custody," the organization denounced, while ensuring that it was conducting an investigation into these events.

Regarding the MINURSO (UN Mission for a referendum in Western Sahara), HRW deplores the fact that its mandate was renewed in April 2010 by the UN Security Council which declined once again to enlarge it to include the observance and protection of human rights, as requested by the Polisario Front, due to the Morocco’s refusal," the report notes.

HRW denounced also the position of France "which has rarely criticized the human rights practices of Morocco, and openly supports the autonomy plan for Western Sahara."
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