King Mohammed VI, Office of the King, Palais Royal, Rabat, Morocco 9 January 2012 Re: Arrest, detention

and fear of torture and ill-treatment of human rights defender Mr Hasna Al Wali Your Majesty, Front Line Defenders would like to call your attention to the arrest, detention and fear of torture and ill-treatment of human rights defender Mr Hasna Al Wali. On 6 January 2012, at 10am, human rights defender Mr Hasna Al Wali was arrested in the city of Dakhla by uniformed and plain clothes officers from the Moroccan Judiciary Police. The police stated that an arrest warrant had been issued against him. He was then taken to a police detention centre in the city where he was held incommunicado before being transferred the following day to Alkuhl prison in the city of El-Ayoun. Hasna Al Wali is an adviser of the Organisation Against Torture in Dakhla, and had been sought by the police since the violent disturbances in Dakhla during the last week of September 2011, which had already led to the arrest and detention of five human rights defenders. Front Line Defenders issued appeals on their arrest on 6 October and 25 November 2011. Hasna Al Wali is being detained pending interrogation by an investigating magistrate. It is feared that he may be tortured and ill-treated in detention to force him to incriminate himself under duress. Front Line Defenders has received information about the torture and ill-treatment of human rights defenders Messrs Kamal Al Tarayh, Abd Al Aziz Barrai, Al Mahjoub Awlad Al Cheih, Mohamed Manolo and Atiqu Barrai, who were arrested in Dakhla in October and November 2011. They were reportedly beaten while held incommunicado in police custody, and forced to sign documents incriminating them under duress. At least two of the detainees had fallen ill since their arrest and Kamal Al Tarayh was admitted on 29 December 2011 to Hasan Ben Al Mahdi Hospital in the city of El-Ayoun suffering from severe back pain. Al Mahjoub Awlad Al Cheih is also reported to be suffering from back pain but has not been taken to hospital or provided with medical care. The arrest of Hasna Al Wali is part of an ongoing crackdown on human rights defenders in Western Sahara. Front Line Defenders believes that his arrest and detention are directly related to his legitimate and peaceful work in defence of human rights, particularly with regard to his advocacy in favour of the self-determination of Moroccan-administered Western Sahara. Front Line Defenders is deeply concerned for the physical and psychological integrity and security of Hasna Al Wali, particularly considering that he may be at risk of being subjected to torture and ill-treatment.

Front Line Defenders calls on the Moroccan authorities to: 1. Immediately and unconditionally release human rights defenders Hasna Al Wali, Kamal Al Tarayh, Abd Al Aziz Barrai, Al Mahjoub Awlad Al Cheih, Mohamed Manolo and Atiqu Barrai as Front Line Defenders believes that their arrest and detention are motivated by their legitimate human rights work in Western Sahara; 2. Ensure that Hasna Al Wali is well treated while in detention and not subjected to torture or any other form of ill-treatment, and that he is allowed unfettered access to his lawyer and family and provided with any medical care he may need; 3. Immediately investigate thoroughly and independently into reports of torture of Kamal Al Tarayh, Abd Al Aziz Barrai, Al Mahjoub Awlad Al Cheih, Mohamed Manolo and Atiqu Barrai with a view to establishing the truth and bringing perpetrators to justice; 4. Provide as a matter of urgency specialist and independent medical care to Kamal Al Tarayh and Al Mahjoub Awlad Al Cheih, and ensure that the two men and other human rights defenders detained are held in conditions compatible with international standards. Front Line Defenders respectfully reminds you that the United Nations Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adopted by consensus by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1998, recognises the legitimacy of the activities of human rights defenders, their right to freedom of association and to carry out their activities without fear of reprisals. We would particularly draw your attention to Article 6 (c): Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others (...): (c) To study, discuss, form and hold opinions on the observance, both in law and in practice, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and, through these and other appropriate means, to draw public attention to those matters. Kindly inform us of any action taken in relation to this case. Yours sincerely,

Mary Lawlor Director