Today a petition in support for Sahrawi students was launched at the
following link: www.petitiononline.com/sahrawi/petition.html

The Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara invites
individuals
and organisations to sign up, and to send separate copies of the
text to
the following:

-Mr. Mohamed Bouzoubâa, Minister of Justice (fax +212 37-70-23-98),
-Mr. Chakib Benmoussa, Minister of the Interior (Fax: +212 37 76 20
56)
-Direction de l'administration Pénitentaire et de la Réinsertion (fax
+212 37 67 47 85)

If you chose to send separate letters to the above, please notify us
on
info@....

Thank you,
Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara




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His Excellency, Minister of Justice
Mr. Mohamed Bouzoubâa
Rabat, Morocco
Fax: +212 037-70-23-98

Norway, September, 2007

Open letter to the Moroccan government

Dear Minister,
The undersigned would like to draw your attention to the rights of
students from occupied Western Sahara, particularly those in Moroccan
jails.

Reports from media, human rights organisations and witnesses on the
ground document how Sahrawi students are being systematically
harassed
and detained for exercising their legitimate rights to freedom of
speech
and assembly.

Once the students enter the jails or are sentenced to long prison
terms,
their right to an education is not respected. It is, for instance,
impossible to study in the over-crowded prison in El Aaiun. Sahrawi
human rights organisations regularly report that prison guards in El
Aaiun confiscate the prisoners' property. There are no teachers
available to carry out the exams, something which makes it
technically
impossible to study and graduate.

Some Sahrawi prisoners who have wanted to study have therefore been
transferred to prisons in Morocco, where prison standards generally
are
better, and where exams can be practically carried out. This is,
however, not the case for all.

Minister, we would particularly draw your attention to the case of
the
21 year old imprisoned pupil El Ouali Amidane, who has not been given
the possibility to study. Amidane is an active member of the Sahrawi
human rights organisation CODESA, and would normally have been
attending
the secondary school at a private institution in El Aaiun. This is
not
possible, due to his incarceration. April 17th, Amidane was
sentenced to
5 years of jail for having participated in a demonstration.

In June this year, Amidane applied to be transferred to the Ait
Melloul
prison in Agadir, in order to pursue his studies. The application was
sent to the prison administration in El Aaiun, as well as to central
authorities in Rabat. Despite the fact that three months have passed,
and the school year started in September, his request has still not
been
granted. Monday 17th of September, Amidane started a hunger strike in
protest.

On September 20th, he was transferred to the local jail of Taroudant,
Morocco, where it is equally impossible to study.

The undersigned demand that Morocco:

-fulfil its obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the
Child
to which it is a signatory, and halt the harassment of Sahrawi youths
and minors.
-respect the Sahrawi students' right to expression, movement,
association and assembly.
-take measures to prosecute those responsible for carrying out abuses
against Sahrawi students.

Most importantly, the undersigned demand the immediate and
unconditional
release of El Ouali Amidane, as well as all other Sahrawi political
prisoners currently sentenced or temporarily detained.

While awaiting their liberation, the Sahrawi students in Moroccan
jails,
such as Mr. Amidane, should be granted their legitimate right to
study.

Sir, please be assured of our highest consideration and sincere
greetings.

Copy sent to:

The Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mohamed Benaissa
Direction de l'administration Pénitentaire et de la Réinsertion
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