Brussels, March 8, 2013 (SPS) - The European deputies Daniel Cohn-Bendit of France and Isabella Leuven of Sweden denounced Thursday their expulsion, along with other European Mps, from Casablanca airport, describing the move as an attempt by Moroccan government to hide its violation of human rights in the occupied Western Sahara.
Mr. Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Co-president of the Centre-Right Group and Greens Party, told the press that this act is “totally unacceptable”, adding that Western Sahara matter cannot be solved without an open debate and without examining the situation in the field.
From her part, the MP Isabella Leuven said that Moroccan regime tries to hide something, thus, she added, it prevented our contact with the Saharawis.
“This travelling has been announced earlier, but we received a message stating that we are not welcomed,” said Ms. Leuven.
She, therefore, stated that the meetings were scheduled with all the parties concerned in the region, including representatives of human rights and representatives from the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). They also demanded a meeting with Moroccan authorities in order to have a balanced programme.
The visit is a part of the implementation of January’s EU Parliament resolution which demands the release of the Saharawi political prisoners and the respect of human rights in Western Sahara.
This resolution was prepared in the aftermath of the serious human rights violations documented by the UN Special Rapporteur, Amnesty International and other international rights organizations. (SPS)
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