Banjul (Gambia) Feb26,2013(SPS) the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, expressed deep concern about the Moroccan military court’s rulings against 25 Saharawi political prisoners known as Gdeim Izik Group.
“The African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (the Commission) is deeply concerned about the trial and sentencing of twenty-five (25) Sahrawi civilians by a military court in Rabat, Morocco from 8-16 February 2013.” said the Commission in a statement reached SPS.
“The Commission is particularly concerned that the trial took place in a military court without the guarantee of an appeal process: a core element of internationally accepted safeguards of fair trial.”
The Commission reaffirmed “its commitment, in line with its mandate to promote and protect human rights on the African continent, to ensure that the rights of all Sahrawi, wherever they may be, are respected.”
It called on the United Nations Security Council to “give the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) a human rights mandate as it is the case in most UN missions.”
Finally the Commission recalled “its Resolution ACHPR/Res.45 (XXVII) 00 on Western Sahara of 11 May 2000, and calls on the International Community to speedily resolve the question of the right to self-determination of the Sahrawi People.” the statement concluded.(SPS)
080/090