Western Sahara is a disputed territory and the UK regards its status as undetermined. Physical Conditions: Prison and detention center conditions generally were similar to those in internationally recognized Morocco. The CNDH’s Laayoune branch reported one complaint from an organization that was denied registration during the year. This would prolong and further complicate the conflict, turning Western Sahara into a complex theatre akin to that of Libya, with neighbouring Algeria potentially weighing in, if only logistically, to support the Polisario, he said. On May 19, Moroccan authorities denied entry into the territory for five Spanish lawyers and two Norwegian human rights activists attempting to observe the Court of First Instance hearing initially scheduled for May 20. In April Amnesty International reported the government expelled or denied access to Western Sahara to several international observers and lawyers. The government of Morocco encouraged the return of Sahrawi refugees from abroad if they acknowledged the government’s authority over Western Sahara. Rabat had long laid claim to the territory, a Spanish colony up until 1975. Ramid made the remarks while responding to two questions submitted by the Authenticity and Modernity, and Justice and Development Parties in parliament’s Chamber of Representatives about the implementation of recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. But the recognition raised eyebrows in Washington and elsewhere with many observers saying the move was not only in contravention of international law, but also likely to lead to a flare-up in tensions between the kingdom and the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, a movement seeking independence for the territory. Such criticism may result in prosecution under the law, with punishments ranging from fines to jail time, despite the freedom of expression the law stipulates. According to local NGOs and associations, police sometimes arrested persons without warrants or while wearing civilian clothing. For more information, see the Department of State’s 2019 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for Morocco. On January 15, Moroccan authorities denied a Spanish lawyer entry to Laayoune; the lawyer intended to observe Dehani’s Court of Appeals hearing scheduled for January 16. See the Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Report at https://www.state.gov/religiousfreedomreport/. Generally, the government denied official recognition to NGOs that it considered advocates against Islam’s status as the state religion, the legitimacy of the monarchy, or Morocco’s territorial integrity. The government continued to make travel documents available to Sahrawis. Dehani appeared before the Laayoune Court of First Instance in December 2018, where he was charged with defamation and was sentenced to a fine of 2,000 Moroccan dirhams (MAD) ($200). Algeria on Saturday rejected a decision by outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump to recognise Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, saying the step would undermine efforts to … It was a visit that would go down in the annals of Moroccan history. Amnesty International published video footage and witness testimonies indicating that, on July 19, security forces used excessive force to disperse demonstrators after some participants at a street gathering in Laayoune–celebrating an Algerian soccer victory–began waving the Saharan flag. Respect for Civil Liberties, Including: a. There were no reports of disappearances by or on behalf of Moroccan government authorities during the year. Censorship or Content Restrictions: Moroccan law and practice apply. For more information, see the Department of State’s 2019 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for Morocco. Foreign journalists needed, but did not always receive, approval from the Ministry of Communication before meeting with political activists. Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights, Section 6. This number included the Gdeim Izik prisoners as well as members of Sahrawi rights or proindependence organizations. According to the government, Asfari is serving the remainder of his sentence in an individual cell that is compliant with international standards. Aside from its rich fishing waters and phosphate reserves, Western Sahara has few natural resources and lacks sufficient rainfall and freshwater resources for most agricultural activities. Each of the 11 individuals was also fined 30,000 MAD ($3,000) in damages. “It is such an honour for me to visit this stunningly beautiful and critically important region of Morocco, and to begin the process of establishing a US diplomatic presence here,” Fischer said. While authorities generally permitted relatives and friends to visit prisoners, there were reports that authorities denied visiting privileges in some instances. On April 29, a Laayoune Court of First Instance sentenced Saadouni to seven months in prison and a fine of 5,000 MAD ($500) for assault and drug charges. The security apparatus includes several police and paramilitary organizations with overlapping authority. For more information, see the Department of State’s 2019 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for Morocco. It became a protectorate of Spain in the 19th century and was later claimed by Morocco, Mauritania, and local inhabitants. Police confiscated his recording equipment, questioned him, and then released him on the same day. The letter, dated December 15, 2020, referred to the Presidential Proclamation concerning the sovereignty of Morocco over Western Sahara, and the US … In 2018 the Supreme Judicial Council established its internal mechanisms and began the process of taking over day-to-day management and oversight from the Ministry of Justice, although the activities of the Supreme Judicial Council experienced delays due to administrative and legal impediments. The lack of reports of investigations or prosecutions of human rights abuses by Moroccan officials in Western Sahara, whether in the security services or elsewhere in the government, contributed to a widespread perception of impunity. A 2015 revision of the Code on Military Justice eliminated military trials for civilians, and in 2016 the Court of Cassation ruled on appeal that the group should receive a new civilian trial. The disputed territory of Western Sahara was central to a deal announced by President Donald Trump on Thursday establishing diplomatic ties between Morocco and Israel. Independent Monitoring: The Laayoune branch of the CNDH conducted six monitoring visits in two prisons and found the local prison in Laayoune remained overcrowded and insufficiently equipped to provide appropriate living conditions to the detainees. In return, the United States agreed to recognise the disputed territory of Western Sahara as belonging to Morocco. “The president has been poorly advised by his team, he could have made this deal without trading the rights of a voiceless people.”. No Moroccan law limits participation of women or members of minorities in the political process, and the participation of women and minorities was similar to that in internationally recognized Morocco. International and local observers judged the 2016 parliamentary elections, held in both internationally recognized Morocco and Western Sahara, credible and relatively free from irregularities. This is a very important event. Morocco has consistently refused to entertain the prospect of independence for the Sahrawi, saying only autonomy was on the table. Section 1. The Supreme Judicial Council, mandated by the 2011 constitution, manages the courts and day-to-day judicial affairs in place of the Ministry of Justice. Conditions improved during the year, but in some cases they did not meet international standards. For more information, see the Department of State’s 2019 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for Morocco. The Kingdom of Morocco claims the territory of Western Sahara and administers the area it controls by the same constitution, laws, and structures as in internationally recognized Morocco, including laws that deal with religious freedom. NGOs reported several cases of alleged arbitrary arrest and detention, particularly following proindependence demonstrations, although there were fewer allegations than in previous years. “Casting aside legitimate multilateral avenue of conflict resolution only empowers countries like Russia and China to continue trampling on international rules and norms and rewards those who violate borders and the right of free people,” Engel said at the time of the announcement. Two other individuals also received reduced sentences (from 30 years to 25 years and from 25 years to 20 years). In July 2018 the government responded to the working group’s inquiries on the case. Security forces dispersed several demonstrations by force, with clashes resulting in injuries on both sides. On July 29, the Court of First Instance initiated legal proceedings against 11 Sahrawis who were arrested and charged with sabotage, obstruction of a public road, and insulting public authorities. Government officials generally did not provide information on the outcome of complaints. Magrane intended to observe Dehani’s Court of Appeals hearing initially scheduled for January 16 (see section 1.d.). Improvements: According to the CNDH, the Laayoune local prison offered vocational training to prisoners, including women and juvenile offenders, as part of the Mohammed VI Foundation Reintegration of Prison Inmates program. The African Union has maintained that the fate of Western Sahara must be decided by a referendum, even after the US endorsed Morocco's control over the breakaway region. Prison and detention center conditions generally mirrored those in internationally recognized Morocco. The United States ambassador to Morocco began the process of establishing a consulate in the disputed territory of Western Sahara on Sunday, … Security force practices were similar to those in internationally recognized Morocco; however, in Western Sahara there was often a higher ratio of members of security forces to protesters. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro (POLISARIO), an organization that seeks the territory’s independence, disputes Morocco’s claim to sovereignty over the territory. According to the April UN secretary-general’s report, the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) continued to receive communications from lawyers, family members, or both of the Sahrawi individuals arrested during the 2010 dismantling of the Gdeim Izik Camp, alleging that several were subjected to torture, prolonged solitary confinement, and other mistreatment. When warranted, the CNDH recommended reparations in the form of money, health care, employment, or vocational training to victims of forced disappearance (or victims’ families) from previous years. The government and state-owned enterprises were the territory’s principal employers, and residents sought civil service jobs and taxi licenses through personal contacts within the government. Proponents of Trump’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the territory maintain it will lead to greater stability, with the kingdom better able and equipped to tackle transnational threats harming the North Africa region and Europe. Office of the Coordinator for Cyber Issues, Office of the U.S. The government also provided fuel subsidies and exempted workers from income and value-added taxes. In 2018 Asfari was placed in solitary confinement. Corruption: Development spending and military officers’ involvement in private businesses created susceptibility to corruption, as well as opportunities for impunity, in Western Sahara. Moroccan law applies. The major political parties and local observers considered the elections free, fair, and transparent. According to a June RSF report, Sahrawi citizen journalists’ and bloggers’ social media accounts were frequently hacked. The Moroccan government did not consider any of its prisoners to be political prisoners and stated it had charged or convicted all individuals in prison under criminal law. The defendants appealed the sentences, and the date of the Appeals Court trial was unknown at year’s end. Violent confrontations between security forces and protesters were less common than in previous years, according to several local NGOs, although violent dispersals occurred on occasion. The United States has adopted a "new official" map of Morocco that includes the disputed territory of Western Sahara, the ambassador to Rabat said. The Moroccan Prison Administration (DGAPR) contested this claim and asserted that prisoners in Western Sahara and Sahrawi prisoners in internationally recognized Morocco received the same treatment as all other prisoners under its authority. 2019 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Western Sahara, An official website of the United States government, https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/findings/. According to the US Embassy, the role and exact status of this office were clarified on Sunday. For more information, see the Department of State’s 2019 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for Morocco. According to the constitution, the king appoints the head of government from the political party with the most seats in parliament and approves members of the government nominated by the head of government. The April UN secretary-general’s report on Western Sahara cited that between October 2018 and the end of March, 15 persons were deported from or denied entry to Western Sahara. At the third and final hearing on September 4, the court sentenced five defendants to two and one-half years in prison, five other defendants to five years in prison, and another defendant to a one-year suspended sentence. The United States (US) adopted Saturday a “new official” map of Morocco that includes the disputed territory of Western Sahara, the ambassador to Rabat said. US Ambassador David Fischer on Sunday began the process of establishing a consulate in the Western Saharan city of Dakhla. The Moroccan constitution and Moroccan law prohibit such practices, and the government of Morocco denies it authorizes the use of torture. The Moroccan government continued to invest in education in the territory through the Tayssir cash assistance program and continued to provide child protection services through the second phase of the National Initiative for Human Development Support Project. Several proindependence organizations and some human rights NGOs stated that in recent years the submission of applications for permits to hold demonstrations declined because police rarely granted them. Nazha Khalidi, a citizen journalist affiliated with Equipe Media, a Sahrawi online news agency not registered with the government of Morocco, was arrested in December 2018 as she attempted to livestream on Facebook security forces dispersing a demonstration in Laayoune. Officials sometimes engaged in corrupt practices with impunity. According to the October UN secretary-general’s report, the OHCHR received several reports that Gdeim Izik prisoners had been subjected to mistreatment and medical neglect. Moroccan law and practice apply. For more information, see the Department of State’s 2019 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for Morocco. Analysts say by recognising Morocco’s claims over Western Sahara, Washington is effectively undermining international law and the mechanisms by which conflicts are resolved. Via its regional offices in Dakhla and Laayoune, the CNDH continued a range of activities, including monitoring demonstrations, visiting prisons and medical centers, and organizing capacity-building activities for various stakeholders. "This map is a tangible representation of President Trump's bold proclamation two days ago, recognising Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara," Ambassador David Fischer said according to a statement seen by AFP. 03 / Select Countries You can add more than one country or area. There were some reported cases of authorities preventing Sahrawis from traveling. The CNDH and DGAPR provided human rights training for prison officials and members of the security forces in Western Sahara. Publications and broadcast media require government accreditation, and the government may deny and revoke accreditation as well as suspend or confiscate publications. 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