Earlier the same morning his sister, Rabab, plead for Norwegian assistance. Her brother was then awaiting his sentence in El Aaiun. His sentence is the harshest so far this year.
In a parodical trial, El Ouali and two other political prisoners were given severe sentences. El Ouali Amidane and Bachri Ben Taleb were both sentenced to five years in prison, while Yahdih Etarouzi was sentenced to one and a half year.
The court deferred the appeals of Bhaha Mohamed Salem, Mohamed Mouloud Elhajaj, Daida Abdessalam, Elyazid Ben Ammar, Sheik Ben Allal and Zougham Ghali until 15 May 2007. The six youngsters had appealed against sentences from 20 March this year.
According to Sahrawis present at the trial, the courthouse was surrounded by a large number of Moroccan securtiy personnel. Many Sahrawis who appeared in order to witness the trial were harassed and denied access to the courthouse.
Others did not even make it to El Aaiun. On approaching the city, Mohamed Tahlil, president of a local human rights organisation, was stopped by the police, threatened with torture, and brought to the police station, where he remained until 8 pm. He was then blindfolded, and driven to an unknown location, where the threats of torture materialised. Once there, Tahlil was forcefully undressed and submitted to severe beating directed towards all parts of his body. Having paused to flush his body with cold water, the torturers recommenced the beating.
Around 11 pm, Tahlil was left in a critical condition at the eastern outskirts of El Aaiun. He is still suffering severe pain, and is currently having trouble walking.
Since 1975, three quarters of the territory of Western Sahara has been occupied by Morocco. A majority of the population is still living in refugee camps in Algeria. Those who remained in their homeland are subjected to serious harassment from the Moroccan occupiers. For more than 40 years the Sahrawis have been waiting for the fullfilment of their legitimate right to self-determination.
Give a donation!
Support the Support Committee. Help us work for the Sahrawi people's struggle for self-determination. Give a donation here.
A 20 page long booklet on the Western Sahara conflict has been published by the Norwegian Refugee Council. Order a hard copy version of the publication "Occupied Country, Displaced People" here.
facebook
digg
reddit
del.icio.us
furl
Since 1975, three quarters of the territory of Western Sahara has been occupied by Morocco. A majority of the population is still living in refugee camps in Algeria. Those who remained in their homeland are subjected to serious harassment from the Moroccan occupiers. For more than 40 years the Sahrawis have been waiting for the fullfilment of their legitimate right to self-determination.
