Press release : from Belgian ministry of foreign affairs and Free Ali Aarrass Campaign

Press release from Belgian ministry of foreign affairs

(Translation : Frances Webber.

At this occasion, we would like to thank the London Friends of Ali Aarrass (londonaliaarrass@gmail.com) and the Institute of Race Relations (IRR) for their relentless support in the campaign to free Ali Aarrass.)

Didier Reynders writes to his Moroccan colleague about the detainee at Salé

The deputy prime minister and minister for foreign affairs, Didier Reynders, has asked the Moroccan authorities to keep the Belgian authorities informed about Ali Aarrass’ state of health and to confirm that he has access to medical assistance. Reynders wishes to assure himself that Mr Aarrass benefits from detention conditions which conform to respect for human dignity and international humanitarian law. Ali Aarrass has dual Belgian and Moroccan nationality, and is currently detained at Salé prison, Morocco, pursuant to a 12-year sentence imposed by the Rabat court of appeal in connection with terrorism.

In a letter of 5 August to his Moroccan counterpart, minister Reynders pointed out that in accordance with normal practice, Belgium does not intervene with consular assistance to dual nationals, and this action by the minister is not consular assistance but is justified by the concern of Belgium that human rights and dignity are respected. The minister has also emphasised that there is no question of Belgium contesting the decision of the Rabat court.

Hendrik Van de Velde +32 477 40 32 12,

Spokesperson

Joren Vandeweyer +32 473 73 05 94,

adjunct-woordvoerder/porte-parole adjoint

Press release from the Free Ali Aarrass Campaign

6 August 2013

Didier Reynders’ letter is an unprecedented victory for Ali Aarrass, his family and his supporters. We congratulate Ali Aarrass for his courage, and we thank the hundreds of democrats in Belgium and across Europe who have mobilised on his behalf.

The minister’s letter demands ‘access to medical assistance’ and ‘detention conditions in conformity with respect for human dignity and international humanitarian law’. This is just what Ali and all his friends have been demanding! A quick review of the past five years of conversations with different foreign ministers, and their blank, brick-wall responses to our appeals, demonstrates the importance of this official action.

The Free Ali Campaign will continue the struggle for consular protection for Ali Aarrass and for all Belgian-Moroccan dual nationals. We will continue to demand the release of Ali Aarrass, cleared of charges in Spain, tortured in Morocco (see UN Special Rapporteur Juan Mendez’ report), and convicted solely on torture evidence. We recall that Ali Aarrass has always seen, and continues to see his struggle as a struggle for the rights of all prisoners. In this context, we support the appeal of Human Rights Watch for the release of all the remaining prisoners convicted in the Belliraj trials and of all political prisoners in Morocco.