WRITTEN QUESTION E-5366/09 by Raül Romeva i Rueda (Verts/ALE) to the Council Subject: Detention of peaceful human-rights protesters in Morocco According to reports from the Coordination agency of Spanish associations supporting the Sahrawi People (CEAS-Sahara), seven Sahrawi human rights activists, including Ali Salem Tamek and Brahim Dahan, were detained at Casablanca airport in Morocco on Thursday, 8 October 2009 as they returned from visiting friends and family at the Sahrawi refugee camps. This information alleges that they were accused of ‘treason’ and ‘damaging the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Morocco in the service of another country’, accusations that the CEAS claims to be part of a disinformation and smear campaign by the Moroccan authorities to justify their detainment. These accusations thus demonstrate the Moroccan authorities’ intention to conceal the ruthless persecution of peaceful activists working to defend human rights in occupied zones of the Western Sahara and the supporters of independence and freedom for that region so as to stop the spread of information on the unremitting human rights abuse there. These events come after the activist Sukeina Idrissi, now missing, was taken into custody for several hours last week and the detainment of five activists and former political prisoners Sidi Mohammed Daddach, Ahmed Sbai, Larbi Masaud, Brahim El Ismaili and Atigu Barray. It should be added that the exchange of visits of families divided for over 30 years, a recommendation of the UN Security Council, has been accepted by both parties and is framed within a wider set of measures to foster a spirit of dialogue and mutual trust between Morocco and the Polisario Front. In light of the above, was the Council aware of what happened? What view does it take of this? In view of the advanced relations between the EU and Morocco, is the Council willing to intervene in the matter? Furthermore, in view of the incessant human rights violations against peaceful activists for rights for Western Sahara, and taking into account that respect for these rights and democracy are enshrined in Article 2 of the Agreement and form an essential part of it, does the Council intend to invoke the democracy clause and suspend the Agreement? 793854.EN PE 431.366.