Peepshow Casa Amsterdam

2009 Amnesty International report on human rights worldwide. Morocco and Western Sahara

continued to restrict the right to freedom of expression, association and assembly. Were penalized criticism of the monarchy and opinions contrary to official position on other politically sensitive issues. The authorities used excessive force to disperse protests against the government. Were harassed and prosecuted in favor of self-determination for the people of Western Sahara. They failed to investigate allegations of torture, and did not allow effective access to justice for victims of human rights violations committed in the past. The authorities continued to arrest, detain and expel collectively Thousands of people from other countries. Were sentenced to death at least four people, but the government maintained a de facto moratorium on executions.

About in March reached an impasse talks on Western Sahara filed with UN mediation between the government of Morocco and the Polisario Front, which advocated the creation of a independent state in Western Sahara and maintained a self-proclaimed government in exile in refugee camps in southwest Algeria. Morocco insisted on an autonomy plan for the territory annexed in 1975, while the Polisario Front called for a referendum on self-determination, as agreed in previous resolutions of the Security Council of the UN. This extended until April 30, 2009 the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara. The mandate makes no provision for monitoring the situation of human rights.
In October the EU and Morocco agreed to an ambitious plan to give the latter an "advanced status" with the EU, including closer cooperation on security, political, trade and other fields.

"The security forces used excessive force to break demonstrations against the government ... "

Among the recommendations made by several States, when Morocco was the subject of universal periodic review process in April were the harmonization of national legislation with international standards and respect for rights of migrants. However, not raised the issue of impunity for torturers.

(...)

Sahrawi activists continued to be subjected to Sahrawi human rights activists to harassment, how to file charges against them for political reasons, restrictions their freedom of movement and impeding the legal registration of their organizations with administrative obstacles.

Ennaâma Asfari, co-chair of the Committee for the Respect of Liberties and Human Rights in Western Sahara, living in France, reported having been tortured by Moroccan security forces when he was arrested during a visit to the region in April. The authorities failed to investigate his allegations. Ennaâma Asfari was found guilty of violent conduct and spent two months in prison.

Brahim Sabbar , president of the Sahrawi Association of Victims of Grave Human Rights Violations Committed by the Moroccan State (ASVDH), was warned by security officials that he should not visit areas where they live in Laayoune other members of the ASVDH after release in June.

were arrested hundreds of suspects Saharan protest against Moroccan rule or distribute material for the Polisario Front. Some were released after questioning, but others were charged with violent conduct trials which reportedly did not meet international fair trial standards. Many complained they had been subjected to torture or other ill-treatment by security forces and that his trial had been used as evidence information allegedly obtained under torture.

In October, Mohamed Yahya Elhafed Iaazza , a member of the Collective of Sahrawi Human Rights, was found guilty of violent conduct and sentenced to 15 years in prison for his participation in a protest against the rule Moroccan held in Tan Tan Eight defendants were sentenced to four years in prison. It was alleged that they were tortured during interrogation, but did not conduct any investigation regard.

See report on Morocco-Western Sahara full here