Enaama Asfari (right) is dreaming of returning to his home in France. But first he would have to win in court. Monday 28th of April, he is appearing before the court in Marrakech.
Monday 28th of April, at 9 AM, human rights defender Mr. Enaama Asfari, will present himself before the court in Marrakech, and meet the false accusations produced against him.
When the case was opened in Court de première instance in Marrakech, Asfari was accused of having beaten a Moroccan woman, threatening with a knife, and drunk driving. But no evidence was produced in court.
Furthermore, the witnesses and the alledged victim gave contradictory testimonies. So the judge decided to postpone the coninuation of the trial for a week, letting the state attorney cough up new proof. Today, 2 new witnesses are supposed to show up.
When www.vest-sahara.no called Asfari in his cell Sunday night, he was preparing his presentation before the court, and hoping that he would get some sleep.
Most of all, he dreams of getting out of the prison cell.
“If I am released tomorrow, I will take the first flight home to France”, Asfari told vest-sahara.no.
Asfari said he is still carrying traces of torture, both on his two legs, and under the feet, where he had been repeatedly beaten. Amnesty International has called for an investigation of his treatment under custody, and has condemned Morocco's expulsion of his wife and a French delegation of human rights activists who had travelled to attend the trials in Marrakech.
Two French and four Spanish observers have travelled to Marrakech to attend today's trial. Several Sahrawis are also attending, such as the human rights defender Sidi Mohamed Daddach, who in 2002 won the prestigious Norway based Rafto Award.
Asfari guesses Monday's trial will take around 1 hour.
www.vest-sahara.no will bring updates on the outcome of the trial.
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.
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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.
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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.
