International News

ALGIERS, July 21 (APP/AFP) – The Algerian-backed
Polisario Front movement seeking independence for disputed Western Sahara on Thursday denounced as “unjust” a Moroccan court’s decision to sentence a group of Sahrawis to prison.
On Wednesday a court in Sale near Rabat sentenced 23 Sahrawis to
prison terms ranging from two years to life over the killing of 11 members of the Moroccan security forces in Western Sahara.
The case had been closely followed by human rights campaigners.
Morocco and the Polisario Front have accused each other of provoking
deadly clashes between police and Sahrawi protesters at a camp for displaced people in Gdeim Izik in November 2010.
“The Moroccan authorities of occupation were not able to prove the
accusations against the detainees despite all the means of torture (they used against them) and the threats,” the Polisario said in a statement.
It said Wednesday’s verdict was “unjust” and aimed at “stifling the
voice of the Sahrawi people who are demanding their legitimate rights”.
In 2013 a military court sentenced the defendants to jail terms
ranging from 20 years to life imprisonment.
International rights groups condemned that trial as “unfair” and in
July the Court of Cassation ordered a civilian court to examine the case.
The court issued its verdict after 14 hours of deliberations, issuing
sentences against 19 defendants ranging from 20 years to life.
Four others were given lighter sentences but were not detained as
they have already served their time.
The defence has 10 days to appeal the ruling, along with a decision
to dismiss claims for damages.