Madrid, Feb 6, 2016 (SPS) Non-governmental organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) indicated in its annual report 2015 on freedom of expression, that Morocco continues to exert great pressure on Sahrawi journalists in the occupied territories of Western Sahara.
The report, published recently, notes that the Moroccan authorities continue to practice pressure on journalists who try to publish independently on events in Western Sahara.
The report cites the case of journalist Mahmoud Alheissan arrested in 2014, who worked as a correspondent for the TVRASD while covering peaceful demonstrations calling for the independence of Western Sahara.
The NGO added that the report prepared by Mahmud Alheisan and published by the Sahrawi TV shows clearly the violent intervention of the Moroccan police forces against Sahrawi demonstrators in the cities occupied of Western Sahara.
The report examined cases of expulsion by the Moroccan authorities of foreign journalists in the occupied territories and the prohibition of access to the territory, citing harassment of a number of Sahrawi journalists in occupied cities, such as Mohamed Mayara, who was threatened or Zeyou Rahman also was attacked.
The report also presents other cases of Sahrawi journalists harassed during 2015, such as Hayat Khatari, Salha Mohamed Butinkiza and Bambari. (SPS)
062/090/TRA