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Morocco urged to release three activists
CASABLANCA, Morocco, -- A human rights group is urging Moroccan authorities to release three Sahwari activists facing trial after visiting Algerian refugee camps.
Brahim Dahane, Ali Salem Tamek and Ahmed Nasiri are among a number of Sahrawi activists who have faced harassment and intimidation for publicly expressing their views on the self-determination of Western Sahara which Morocco annexed in 1975, an Amnesty International release said Thursday.
All three are accused by Morocco of "undermining internal security" and a trial has been set for Friday.
They were arrested Oct. 8, 2009, at Mohammed V airport in Casablanca following their return from refugee camps run by the Polisario Front in Tindouf, Algeria.
The Polisario Front calls for the independence of Western Sahara and runs a self-declared government in exile, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Amnesty International said.
"Brahim Dahane, Ali Salem Tamek and Ahmed Nasiri have been incarcerated for over a year for actions that amount to no more than peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression and association," Amnesty International said. "The charges against them are clearly politically-motivated and they should be dropped immediately. These prosecutions should not proceed."
CASABLANCA, Morocco, -- A human rights group is urging Moroccan authorities to release three Sahwari activists facing trial after visiting Algerian refugee camps.
Brahim Dahane, Ali Salem Tamek and Ahmed Nasiri are among a number of Sahrawi activists who have faced harassment and intimidation for publicly expressing their views on the self-determination of Western Sahara which Morocco annexed in 1975, an Amnesty International release said Thursday.
All three are accused by Morocco of "undermining internal security" and a trial has been set for Friday.
They were arrested Oct. 8, 2009, at Mohammed V airport in Casablanca following their return from refugee camps run by the Polisario Front in Tindouf, Algeria.
The Polisario Front calls for the independence of Western Sahara and runs a self-declared government in exile, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Amnesty International said.
"Brahim Dahane, Ali Salem Tamek and Ahmed Nasiri have been incarcerated for over a year for actions that amount to no more than peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression and association," Amnesty International said. "The charges against them are clearly politically-motivated and they should be dropped immediately. These prosecutions should not proceed."