Abdelhak Benabdallah tells of the torture he was inflicted as a student
Politics, 2/1/2005

Abdelhak Benabdallah told the public hearing on human rights violations, held here over the weekend, of his arrest in 1984 and his condemnation to four years in prison in the wake of the events that occurred in several Moroccan towns at the time.

At the hearing organised by the justice and reconciliation commission, in charge of examining past human rights violations, Benabdellah said he was arrested a first time in September 1982 for taking part in a demonstration held at the secondary school where he was studying.

Benabdellah, who was sentenced to three months of prison, said he was tortured for 19 days before he stood trial and was detained along with many young people. He went on hunger strike to protest the mistreatments he was subjected to and sent to the hospital because of the impact of hunger.

At the end of his testimony, Benabdellah called on those he regards as responsible for the violations to apologise to the victims to turn the page and consecrate the rule of law.

Benabdallah said he took refuge in France in 1989, for several students were being arrested in Fes and was granted royal free pardon in 1994. He also told of the sufferings inflicted to his brother Mohamed who was arrested in 1981.

Previous Stories:
  European MPs highlight reform process initiated under the leadership of King Mohammed VI   (1/29/2005)
  Amnesty International praises Morocco's 'Increasing openness on human rights'   (1/27/2005)
  Next public hearing of human rights victims to be held in Figuig   (1/26/2005)

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