WESTERN SAHARA: Human rights activists arrested

The Moroccan government continues to clamp down on dissent in Western Sahara, the country it occupies, following a pro-independence upsurge in protest in May-June. On July 21, five Saharawi human rights workers were arrested. All of the men have been imprisoned before. Other arrests have included musician M'Barek Maainiya, who wrote songs about the May-June protests; veteran activist Hamad Hmad, who was arrested while seeking sanctuary in the Spanish cultural centre; Aminatou Haidar, who was arrested in hospital where she was being treated after being badly beaten at a protest; and Ali Salem Tamek, a former Amnesty-decreed prisoner of conscience, who was arrested at the airport when he returned from Europe. Nine young men charged with "violence against officials" for joining the May-June protests have been sentenced to between eight and two years' imprisonment. Another three received suspended sentences and three were acquitted.

From Green Left Weekly, July 27, 2005.

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From GLW issue 635