Brussels, Jan 27, 2013 (SPS) - Twenty-nine European deputies have urged the EU High Commissioner for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton to immediately intervene to stop Morocco’s decision to bring 24 Saharawi political prisoners, known as Gdeim Izik group, to a military trial on February 1st, in a letter sent Friday evening.
The MPs, from various European parliamentary groups of Spain, Portugal, Germany, Cyprus, France, Sweden, Ireland, Greek, UK, Slovenia, Italy and Belgium, drew attention of Ashton to the bloody intervention on Gdeim Izik camp on November 8, 2010.
“The protest camp was violently dismantled by Moroccan army, causing deaths, dozens wounded, and prisoners and disappeared. This act net with widespread condemnation by the international community, including the European Parliament,” asserted the letter.
“Thus, we the European deputies call you, as your capacity as EU High Commissioner, to immediately intervene to stop Moroccan government’s intention to bring the Saharawi political detainees before a military trial,” they added.
They, therefore, urged Ashton to intervene to unconditionally release all the Saharawi political prisoners in Morocco’s jails, as to pressurize Morocco to cease its gross violations of human rights in occupied Western Sahara. (SPS)
090/089/TRA