Morocco/Western Sahara

Morocco: Reverse Expulsion of Sahrawi Activist

Human Rights Watch — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:54:00 -0800

(New York) - Morocco must reverse its expulsion of Sahrawi rights activist Aminatou Haidar and allow her to enter her country of nationality, Human Rights Watch said today. Spain must intercede with Morocco to ensure her return, Human Rights Watch added.

Morocco: Endangered 'Model'?

Eric Goldstein — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:12:18 -0800

How should the United States relate to a solid ally whose human rights record is better than the norm in its region and better than its own record of 20 years ago - but is now heading in the wrong direction?

Morocco/Western Sahara: Reverse New Rule on Sahrawi Activists’ Contacts

Human Rights Watch — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:56:03 -0800

(New York) - Morocco is taking another regressive step on human rights by blocking "unauthorized" visits by foreigners to the homes of Sahrawi activists in Western Sahara, Human Rights Watch said today.

Freedom to Create Associations

Human Rights Watch — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:57:00 -0700

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Freedom to Create Associations

A Declarative Regime in Name Only

Freedom to Create Associations

Human Rights Watch — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:57:00 -0700

This 45-page report says that local representatives of the Interior Ministry often refuse to accept registration papers when a group's objectives or membership displeases the authorities. Moroccan law permits new associations to come into being simply by registering with local authorities, rather than by requiring prior authorization. The law obliges officials to accept the registration papers.

Morocco: Stop Undermining Civic Groups

Human Rights Watch — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:51:44 -0700

(Rabat) - Morocco should halt the widespread bureaucratic maneuvers that undermine freedom of association, including withholding registration from civic groups in violation of its own laws, Human Rights Watch said in a report issued today.

Morocco: End Police Actions Against Persons Accused of Breaking Ramadan Fast

Human Rights Watch — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 15:21:46 -0700

(New York) - Moroccan authorities should drop all proceedings against a group arrested for planning a forest picnic as a low-key protest against a law barring Muslims from eating publicly during Ramadan's fasting hours, Human Rights Watch said today.

Morocco: Lift Restrictions on Amazigh (Berber) Names

Human Rights Watch — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:21:33 -0700

(Washington, DC) - Morocco should stop interfering with the right of its citizens to give Amazigh names to their children, Human Rights Watch said today.

Morocco: New Jail Term for Western Sahara Activist

Human Rights Watch — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:45:00 -0700

(Washington, DC) - The conviction and imprisonment of the Western Sahara human rights defender Naâma Asfari on August 27, 2009, for "showing contempt toward a public agent" shows that Morocco continues to punish peaceful activists who show their support for independence for that region, Human Rights Watch said today.

Will Arab States help end the Scourge of Cluster Munitions?

Joe Stork, published in "Al-Sijil" — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 10:30:05 -0700

Back in 2006, Israel's profligate use of cluster munitions in Lebanon caught the public eye, nowhere more so than in the Arab world. During the 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah, Israeli forces rained rockets loaded with cluster munitions on south Lebanon, the vast majority in the last 3 days of the conflict.