Morocco: Prisoner of conscience Ali-Salem Tamek released
Posted: October 3, 2006
Human rights defender Ali Salem Tamek. Samuel Aranda/AFP/Getty Images
Good news was received from Morocco on April 22, 2006, when human rights defender and prisoner of conscience Ali-Salem Tamek was released following a royal pardon.
Ali-Salem Tamek is part of the Western Sahara branch of the Forum for Truth and Justice, an organization that campaigns for the rights of victims and families of victims of torture, “disappearances” and other human rights violations.
During 2005 there were demonstrations in Western Sahara calling for the independence of the region from Morocco.
Tamek was arrested after he collected information about human rights violations that the Moroccan forces had committed against the demonstrators. In response to a worldwide appeal, Amnesty members wrote letters to the Moroccan authorities calling for his release.