WRITTEN QUESTION E-5373/09 by Willy Meyer (GUE/NGL) to the Council Subject: Military trial and possible death sentence for seven Sahrawi human rights defenders On 8 October 2009, the Moroccan police arrested seven Sahrawi human rights defenders at 14.30 on their return from a visit to refugee camps near Tindouf. The names of the seven people arrested are: – Ali Salem Tamek, Vice-President of the Collective of Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders, – Brahim Dahin, President of the Sahrawi Association of Victims of Grave Human Rights Violations Committed by the Moroccan State, – Enguiya Lachgar, member of the Sahrawi Association of Victims of Grave Human Rights Violations Committed by the Moroccan State, – Hamadi Nasiri, General Secretary of the Sahrawi Committee for the Defence of Human Rights in Smara (Western Sahara), – Saleh Lubeihi, President of the Forum for the Protection of Sahrawi Children, – Rachid Esgair, member of the Committee for Action against Torture in Dakhla (Western Sahara), – Yahdih Tarruzi, former political prisoner. According to the public prosecutor’s office in Casablanca, the seven will be tried by a military tribunal for ‘acting against the higher interests of the Nation’ and for ‘collaborating with the enemy’, for which they could be sentenced to death. The European Union attaches great importance to the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Morocco, as the Commission stated in its reply to question No E-3578/07, and the Advanced Status for the Kingdom of Morocco provides for a human rights clause. In view of this: Is the Council aware of these serious facts? If not, can the Council explain why and what action it intends taking? If it is aware of these facts, what steps has it taken to stop the repression of the Sahrawi people by the Moroccan authorities and what has the reaction been? Bearing in mind the ever closer relations between the European Union and Morocco, does the Council intend to suspend the EU-Morocco Advanced Status until Morocco ends political persecution of the Sahrawis and releases people arrested arbitrarily for trying to exercise their civil and political rights? 794033.EN PE 431.373.