The 19 Sahrawi Political Prisoners known as Gdeim Izik group, continue to suffer ill-treatment, medical neglect and torture after two unfair trials that have not been able to prove the guilt of any of the accused. Furthermore, two and a half years after the last trial, the Moroccan Supreme Court still did not issue its decision. Their lawyer Maitre Olfa Ouled was prevented from seeing her clients or contacting them, having been expelled from Morocco in February 2018 for the second time.
The UN Committee Against Torture issued interim measures which have so far not been respected, as in the case of Mr. Abbahah, although the Commission has repeatedly requested that Morocco issue provisional measures to alleviate the deplorable conditions of this political prisoner from the Gdeim Izik group.
- Five of these prisoners are in prolonged solitary confinement for over two years, and all of them are denied adequate medical attention;
- In the face of these grave violations of the rights of these political prisoners and the fact that they are in prison for over nine years without a final sentence and under continuing torture;
The International Association of Democratic Lawyers urges that:
- The Moroccan Supreme court issues a final decision without delay
- The Kingdom of Morocco to open without delay an investigation on the torture allegations led by independent experts and in accordance with Istanbul Protocol;
- The immediate provisional release of these prisoners;
- And respect for the minimum rights of the prisoners: Not to be tortured or held in solitary confinement, given access to adequate medical care, the right to family visits and to contact with their lawyer.
Proposed by the Portuguese Association of Democratic Jurists (AJPD)
Adopted by the International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL)
Brussels, Belgium
10 November 2019