Rabat, March 13, 2017 (SPS) The trial of the Saharawi political prisoners of the Gdeim Izik group resumed on Monday in Rabat against calls for their "immediate and unconditional" release.
The resumption of the trial of the Saharawi militants comes at a time when a campaign of support and international solidarity is being conducted in favor of the prisoners unjustly condemned by a military tribunal.
Appeals were also launched to try Moroccan officials for "arbitrary detentions".
On July 27, 2016, the Moroccan court of cassation annulled, under pressure from international human rights organizations and militant jurists, the unjust condemnation by a military court against these Saharawi militants.
No less than 24 Sahrawi human rights activists and defenders were arrested in a Moroccan military operation aimed at dismantling the Gdeim Izik camp in November 2010.
Detained since 2010, Gdeim Izik prisoners demanded the prosecution and trial of "jailers and those responsible for the kidnappings, arbitrary detention, as well as those responsible for all forms of physical and psychological torture in police and gendarmerie posts in occupied El Aaiun, at the local prison of Salé 2 and Salé 1, and at the local prison of Aarjat ".
After 27 months of pre-trial detention, the 24 Sahrawi militants were sentenced by a military court to heavy prison sentences for their "involvement in the protest movement". (SPS)
062/090/TRA