Former detainee Boudrara: when an individual is tortured it is all the society that is harmed in its dignity and freedom
Morocco, Politics, 2/1/2005

"My testimony is one of the collective memory of the Moroccan wound, for when an individual is tortured it is all the society that is harmed in its dignity and freedom," said Mohamed Boudrara.

Speaking at a public hearing held, in Figuig on Saturday, by the justice and reconciliation commission (IER - in charge of considering past human right violations), Boudrara said he was arrested in 1973 and told of his bitter experience in "Corbis" detention centre before he was found innocent by the court in 1976.

Boudrara said all those who underwent the same mistreatment were likely to die or go crazy because of the physical and psychological torture they were inflicted and detention conditions in "Corbis" where the detainees, which were cuffed and their eyes covered, suffered cold and heat and lice, prayed to be transferred to the derb Moulay Cherif prison in Casablanca to avoid the conditions in "Corbis."

He praised the efforts of the IER and national and international human rights Ngos for the work they did for the defence of victims. He said he will never forget the image of thousands of detainees in "Corbis," but he ascertained he was upbeat as to the promising future awaiting Moroccans thanks to the process of turning the page of the past and democratisation.

Boudrara insisted the action to sort out the case of all those who disappeared be carried on to enhance the consecration of the rule of law.

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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