Washington, 27 June 2015 (SPS) – The US Department of State confirmed in its report on human rights for 2014 that credible reports indicated that the Moroccan security forces engaged in torture, beatings, and other mistreatment of Sahrawi detainees in both political cases and ordinary criminal cases.
The US Department of State evoked in its report that “the August 4 report of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention noted the working group received numerous complaints that authorities in El Aaiun used torture and mistreatment to extract confessions.
“In his February 2013 report on a 2012 visit to the territory, Juan Mendez, UN special rapporteur on torture, stated that authorities used torture and mistreatment to extract confessions, including at the time of arrest, in police stations, and at the El Aaiun Prison.”
“The report noted credible testimonies relating to rape, severe beating, and isolation for weeks, particularly of inmates accused of participating in proindependence activities.”
“Both international and local NGOs continued to report abuses, especially of Sahrawi independence advocates. Activists who were detained and subsequently released, as well as family members of many of those still in custody, made similar accusations.”
“The August 4 report of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention noted that among other abuses, the working group received numerous complaints of arbitrary detention.”
“According to the August 4 report by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, allegations indicated that police regularly raided the private homes of alleged or known supporters of independence for Western Sahara, beating and mistreating residents.”
The Moroccan government enforced strict procedures governing NGO representatives and political activists meeting with journalists, the US Department of State’s report further confirmed. (SPS)
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