Sandblast releases statements and press releases on a monthly basis to inform the community and human rights supporters about recent events, happenings and upcoming action.

1. For immediate release:
Britain’s Got a “Western Sahara Moment”
Charity Sandblast urges UK action on Moroccan human rights abuses
London, January 27, 2010 - The increase of reports of violence and human
rights abuses against Saharawis in Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara has
alarmed human rights organisations and activists all over the world. Gordon
Brown’s “Western Sahara moment” during Prime Minister’s Questions session
(January 13th) highlighted the general lack of awareness in Britain about the
grave human rights problems afflicting the former Spanish colony. In protest,
the UK charity Sandblast has launched an e-petition to 10 Downing Street
seeking to mobilize British voices to call on Gordon Brown and his
government to put more pressure on Morocco to respect universal human
rights principles and stop its abuses against the Saharawi people.
In August 2009, a group of six young Saharawis, who were invited to attend
the peace building dialogue programme, Talk Together, at Oxford, were
prevented by Moroccan authorities from boarding the plane in Agadir. The
"Oxford Six” subsequently experienced severe harassment, beatings and
abductions. Then in October, seven well-known Saharawi human rights
activists were abducted and arrested at Casablanca airport, upon their return
from visiting relatives in the Saharawi refugee camps in Algeria. They are on
now trial for treason in a military court and face possible life sentences or
even execution. Amnesty International reports that the authorities have been
using repressive legislation to force statements, are abusing prisoners and
deny adequate legal representation. In November, leading human rights
activist Aminatou Haidar was expelled to Lanzarote from her homeland for
refusing to identify herself as a Moroccan national. Only after serious
international pressure was she eventually allowed to return home 32 days
later but has reportedly been under virtual house arrest ever since.
The recently published 2009 Human Rights Watch (HRW) report states
“Morocco’s backtracking on rights became apparent to all during 2009.
Author: Sandblast
Date: February 1, 2010

2. Developments in 2010 will reveal whether authorities intend to reinforce this
negative trend or put the country back on a path of progress on rights.”
Sandblast's e-petition urges the UK, as a leading EU member, to ensure that
negotiations due to take place this coming April, on "advanced status" for
Morocco in the EU, are suspended until it meets vital human rights criteria.
Founding director Danielle Smith believes Britain’s role is crucial and that the
voices of British civil society need to be heard loud and clear to ensure human
rights and justice for the Saharawis.
Sandblast hopes to collect thousands of signatures by February 27 on the
occasion of the anniversary of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, which
was proclaimed 34 years ago and is recognized by over 70 countries
worldwide. Sign the petition at http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/sahrawirights/
About Sandblast:
Sandblast is an arts and human rights charity that aims to empower the
displaced Saharawi refugees through the arts. Close to 200,000 Saharawis
have been living as refugees since the 1975 Moroccan invasion of their
country, Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony in NW Africa. Despite the
extreme hardships of their exile, the Saharawi refugee community has
managed to build a vibrant, democratically run nation-in-exile, where women
play a prominent role in all sectors of life, defying many Western
preconceptions about Arab-Muslim societies. The Saharawis seek their
independence in Western Sahara and have been waiting for the UN to
implement the long promised referendum for their self-determination,
originally scheduled for early 1992. To find out more please visit the
Sandblast website: www.sandblast-arts.org.
Contact:
Danielle Smith
Director of Sandblast
61 Minster Road
London NW2 3SH
e: danielle@sandblast-arts.org
t: 0783 8463310
Author: Sandblast
Date: February 1, 2010