Articles for Morocco

Morocco will be reviewed by the Committee against Torture (also known as CAT) in early November 2011. This is an opportunity for civil society to raise any issues they may have with the Moroccan authorities regarding torture, as the United Nations human rights body will examine the situation of torture in the country closely.

Arrested for the first time in July 2009 as he was travelling to Pakistan with Tablighi Jamaat, a religious organization for which he volunteered, Mr Mohammed Hajib was again arrested in Morocco last year and remains detained in inhumane conditions to date.
Mr. Karim Khader, who has dual British-Moroccan citizenship and lives in London, was arrested 24 June 2011 after arriving at Tanger port. He was freed 30 June 2011.

Recollection of the facts:

Mr. Karim Khader (كريم خادر) is 30 years old and of dual British-Moroccan citizenship; he is an air-conditioning engineer and normally lives in London in the United Kingdom. He was arrested 24 June 2011 at 5:30 am at the port of Tanger where he was disembarking from a ship with his father-in-law.

Mr. Rachid Niny, editor in chief of one of the largest daily Moroccan Arabic newspapers called "Al Massae," was brought 28 April 2011 to the headquarters of the national judicial police brigade in Casablanca and placed in custody.
Mrs. Doha Aboutabit, arrested 3 December 2009, is detained at Salé prison. During the revolt of 16 May 2011 at the prison, the security forces used firearms which wounded many prisoners. Though spared from these events, the women's section was nonetheless taken over by the agents. Mrs. Aboutabit was physically abused to the point of fearing that she had broken bones. The prison administration refused to have her examined.

On 19 May 2011 Alkarama urgently asked the Special Rapporteur on Torture to enjoin the Moroccan authorities to stop the persecutions to which Mrs.

Mr. Rachid Niny is editor in chief of one of Morocco's biggest Arabic language dailies, Al Massae. He has more than once been prosecuted for writing critical articles. On 28 April 2011 he was summoned to the office of the National Judicial Police Brigade in Casablanca and placed in custody.
Hicham El Hachimi, a father, 29 living in Al Aliya Al Mohammadia, was arrested on 30 November 2010 without a warrant by plain-clothed police officers. He was then put in a vehicle with more agents and taken to an unknown location.

Between 31 October and 1 November 2010 Rachid Tayane, Ahmed Daftare and Said Azzame were disappeared by plain-clothed intelligence officers in Mohammedia. Their families do not know where they are being detained, nor the charges held against them.

Alkarama sent urgent appeals to the Working group on enforced or involuntary disappearances (WGEID) on 14 December 2010 for Mr Tayane, and on 16 December for Mr Daftare and Mr Azzame in the hopes of receiving information regarding their whereabouts. Requests have also been made for their release and/or appearance before a judge.

On 9 feburary 2010, Abderrahim El-Ati was arrested and taken in custody by local police forces in Azemmour. He died less than two hours later.

On 8 december 2010, Alkarama informed the Special Rapporteur on the summary executions, requesting his intervention on on behalf of Mr El-Ati. The aim is to instigate an independent investigation into the the circumstances surrounding M. Al-Ati's death, as well as identifying those responsible.

Abderrahim El-Ati, 23, lived and worked as a carpenter in Azemmour, 70 km east of Casablanca.

On 9 October 2010, more than 100 detainees were tortured during a mass prison transfer to Kenitra prison. Among them was Youssef Al-Khammal, who was beaten by the prison authorities who violently subdued a prison protest against unfair trials and unacceptable prison conditions.

On 26 November 2010 Alkarama addressed the Special Rapporteur on Torture requesting his intervention with the Moroccan authorities for instigate an investigation into the incident.