Hunger strike due to more ill-treatment
Ali Aarrass, a dual Belgian-Moroccan national detained in Salé II prison near Rabat, Morocco, is on a “dry” hunger strike (refusing water in addition to food) to protest ill-treatment at the hands of the prison authorities. He is reportedly in a critical condition, still conscious but unable to stand and struggling to speak. Ali Aarrass began his hunger strike on 10 July, after prison personnel entered his cell in his absence, took away his personal correspondence, including letters from his family and postcards from supporters, and left his cell in disorder. He was then denied basic prisoner rights including the right to make phone calls, access his mail, shower and use the courtyard in what amounts to ill-treatment. Ali Aarrass intensified his hunger strike on 25 July by refusing water. He has not been permitted to contact his family and lawyer since then.
His family and lawyers told Amnesty International they believe these measures came in retaliation for a public campaign of solidarity with him that is calling for his release and the investigation of reports that he was tortured when detained from 14 to 24 December 2010 by Morocco’s intelligence outfit, the General Directorate for Surveillance of the Territory (DST), at their offices in Témara. Ali Aarrass’s lawyers saw their latest request to lodge a complaint for torture rejected by the Moroccan authorities despite the fact that a medical examination conducted during a visit by the UN Special Rapporteur on torture earlier this year provided further evidence of torture. They are calling upon the Belgian authorities to offer Ali Aarrass consular assistance.
Please write immediately in Arabic, French or your own language:
Calling on the Moroccan authorities to ensure that Ali Arrass is given immediate access to adequate medical care from medical professionals who will act in accordance with medical ethics and not coerce him to end his hunger strike, and that he is treated humanely at all times and not punished in any way for his hunger strike;
Urging the Moroccan authorities to respect Ali Arrass’s prisoner rights and give him access to the outside world including his family and his lawyers, as well as access to correspondence;
Calling on the Moroccan authorities to investigate reports that Ali Aarass has been tortured or otherwise ill-treated, including on 10 July 2013 in Salé II prison and during his detention in the DST offices in Témara.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 09 SEPTEMBER 2013 TO:
Minister of Justice and Liberties
Mustafa Ramid
Ministry of Justice and Liberties
Place El Mamounia – BP 1015
Rabat, Morocco
Fax: +212 537 73 47 25
Salutation: Your Excellency
Director of General Administration for Prison Administration and Reinsertion
Hafid Benhachem
Avenue Ibn Sina, Agdal – PB 123
Rabat, Morocco
Fax: +212 5 37 71 26 19
Salutation: Dear Sir
And copies to:
National Council for Human Rights
President Driss El Yazami
CNDH, Place Achouhada- BP 1341, 10 001, Rabat, Morocco
Email: elyazami@cndh.org.ma
Fax: +212 537 73 29 27
