PRESS RELEASE
2 October 2007
Posted to the web 2 October 2007
Eight members of a human rights group in Morocco are in jail for "undermining the monarchy" through their protest slogans. Amnesty International is asking you to appeal to the Moroccan authorities for their release.
Seven of the men, all members of the Moroccan Human Rights Association (AMDH), were peacefully protesting on 1 May in the cities of Ksar El Kebir and Agadir to mark International Workers' Day. They were accused of "undermining the monarchy" for their anti-monarchy protest chants, such as "no more taboos, no more freedom". The men got two- to four-year jail sentences and fines of 10,000 Dirhams (US$1,300).
Following a sit-in in solidarity with the seven men, 10 further AMDH members were arrested in June in Beni Mellal and charged with the same offence. One of them was sentenced to three years in prison, while the other nine were given a year in jail but remain free pending appeal.
Amnesty International urges you to write to the Moroccan authorities, and demand them to immediately and unconditionally release the eight prisoners of conscience.
Send appeals to:
His Excellency Mohamed Bouzoubâa, Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice
Place Mamounia
Rabat, Morocco
http://allafrica.com/stories/200710021196.html
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