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On behalf of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights (RFK Center), I write to inform you of the arrest of 2008 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Laureate Aminatou Haidar of Western Sahara and to solicit your support for her release.
Aminatou was arrested today at the airport in Laayoune, Western Sahara, by Moroccan authorities. She was returning from a visit to the U.S. through Spain. She had traveled to the U.S. to receive the Civil Courage Prize awarded by the Train Foundation for her courageous defense of the rights and liberties of the Sahrawi people. While in the U.S., Aminatou met with several Congressional staff members as well as representatives of UN member states.
Her whereabouts are currently unknown and her family has not been able to contact her. Moroccan officials claim that she was arrested because she refused to complete immigration forms. Her arrest follows a spate of recent arrests and confiscation of the travel documents of several Sahrawi activists by Moroccan authorities. Seven Sahrawi activists who visited Sahrawi refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria in October currently face charges before a military tribunal.
RFK Center has issued a press release calling for Aminatou’s release, a copy of which I am forwarding along with this email. We kindly urge you to call Ambassador Aziz Mekouar of the Moroccan Embassy in Washington DC at +1 202-462-7979 Ext. 27 to request Aminatou’s release. We thank you for your support.
Boi-Tia A. Stevens
Senior Advocacy Officer
Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights
Tel: 202-463-7575 ext. 235
Fax: 202-463-6606
Email: stevens@...
RFK CENTER CONDEMNS MOROCCO'S DETENTION OF DECORATED HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER, AMINATOU HAIDAR
11/13/2009Washington, DC - The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights (RFK Center) strongly condemns the detention of 2008 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Laureate,Aminatou Haidar, by Moroccan authorities today upon her arrival at the airport in Laayoune, Western Sahara.
Ms. Haidar returned to Western Sahara today after a visit to the United States to receive the Civil Courage Prize awarded by the Train Foundation for her courageous defense of the rights and liberties of the Sahrawi people. While in the U.S., she briefed Congressional staff members on the current state of human rights in Western Sahara. She also met with representatives of UN member states. Ms.Haidar traveled to Western Sahara escorted by associates from Spain, who have reportedly been detained along with her.
RFK Center believes the detention of Ms. Haidar is directly related to her work in the defense of human rights.
RFK Center urges the authorities in Morocco to:
1. Immediately and unconditionally release Aminatou Haidar;
2. Take all necessary measures to guarantee her physical and psychological integrity;
3 Guarantee the protection of her fundamental human rights, as enshrined in several international instruments, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Morocco has ratified; and
4. Guarantee that Ms. Haidar is able to continue her work as a human rights defender without fear of reprisal.
Source: http://www.rfkcenter.org/node/398
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See also:
- DFF & RFK Center: Capitol Hill Forum with Aminatou Haidar of Western Sahara, Oct 29, 2009 [photos]
- Press release: Aminatou Haidar wins 2009 Civil Courage Prize (USA), Aug 20, 2009
- UPES: Aminatou Haidar's remarks at Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award ceremony, Nov 17, 2008 [photos]
- The National (UAE): Activist's honour puts pressure on Morocco, Nov 11, 2008
- Foreign Policy in Focus: Haidar's Struggle, Oct 7, 2008
- RFK: Western Sahara Human Rights Defender wins 2008 RFK Human Rights Award, Sep 17, 2008
Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara
*** Referendum now! ***
www.vest-sahara.no
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update
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