[fse-esf] Solidarity Morocco: English version of the international appeal

[Pierre Rousset]

Dear friends,

Some days ago, I circulated the call for international solidarity on  
Morocco in French. Here is the englis version.

There is also a call to defend the postal sector trade unionist Atika  
Samrah, but I have it only in French:

http://www.europe-solidaire.org/spip.php?article6654

MOROCCO

Stop the repression! For the liberation of all political detainees in  
Morocco!

12 July 2007

The INSAD (National Authority for Solidarity with Political  
Detainees) is a unitary framework of the social and political left  
against the wave of repression which has recently hit Morocco. It  
promotes, among other initiatives, an activist campaign to gather a  
million signatures demanding the liberation of arrested and sentenced  
activists. It has appealed at a press conference for active and  
prolonged international solidarity in all its forms.

On May 1 demonstrators, notably in Agadir and Ksar el Kebir, were  
arrested, tortured, charged and sentenced to long prison terms (two  
and three years) for having chanted slogans “damaging the sacred  
values of the Kingdom”, which constitutes a patent violation to the  
right of free opinion and expression.

At Beni Mellal demonstrators were arrested following a peaceful  
demonstration of solidarity with those sentenced on May 1 and accused  
of the same crimes as them. If some were acquitted, others received  
suspended penalties, heavy fines or custodial sentences. Such was the  
case with Bougrine, a founding member of the AMDH, aged 72. He has  
already spent 18 years in the jails of Hassan II and his father  
Mohammed V, a symbol of the continuity of the repression exerted  
under the “reign of the three kings” since independence in 1956.

In Rabat, the national body for solidarity with the detainees of May  
1st, 2007 (INSAD), bringing together several associations, trade  
unions and democratic organisations has appealed for a solidarity  
rally. The forces of order charged the demonstrators without warning  
and with great violence. Solidarity has become a crime. Nearly thirty  
people were hospitalised after being beaten, including the new  
president of the Moroccan Association of Human Rights (AMDH), Khadija  
Ryadi. This police intervention was led by general Laanigri, one of  
the main sponsors of the 0human rights violations, institutionalised  
torture and disappearances under the reign of Hassan II, who remains  
in post.

This escalation of repression gives the lie to the official discourse  
of the construction of a state of law or of democratic advances.  
Punishment for damaging sacred values recalls the judgements of the  
famous “years of lead”. It seeks to discourage the combat of the  
democratic forces, social movements and citizens for full freedom of  
expression and defences of their social and democratic rights. The  
AMDH “recalls that repression fell on the unemployed, the workers,  
the civil servants, the handicapped and the defenders of human rights  
at a time when the persons who pillage public property, who commit  
political and economic crimes enjoy impunity” It is the fight for a  
democratic Morocco based on social justice which is targeted. We will  
not accept it and we bring our full solidarity to the democratic and  
social resistance movements. Thus, we demand the unconditional  
release of all political prisoners, the overturning of their  
sentences, and an end to repression by the Moroccan government.

PETITION

For the liberation of political detainees in MOROCCO!
For an end to the repression of social and democratic resistance!

We support the activists and members of the social, trade union and  
democratic movements arrested and charged with “damaging the sacred  
values of the Kingdom” following the demonstrations of May 1 or for  
having simply demonstrated their solidarity. We demand their  
immediate and unconditional liberation, the overturning of their  
sentences and prosecutions as well as the full respect of the right  
of expression, organisation and demonstration. Our solidarity goes to  
those who fight for a democratic Morocco and social justice and we  
demand an end to all repression.

NAME/FIRST NAME:

PROFESSION

ASSOCIATION/POLITICAL GROUP/TRADE UNION:

COUNTY:

Send your signatures to this appeal to:

insadmai at gmail.com

You can also send faxes to the Moroccan authorities:

Addressee:

Prime Minister: FAX: 00 212 37 768 656

Minister of the Interior: FAX : 00 212 37 762 056

Minister of Justice : FAX : 00 212 37 765 257 (email :  
Alaoui at justice.gov.ma )

Don’t forget to send a copy of the fax to:
insadmai at gmail.com



-------------------

Pierre Rousset
Europe solidaire sans frontières (ESSF)
http://www.europe-solidaire.org
Pierre.Rousset at ras.eu.org



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