Morocco frees 28 political detainees in bid to clear human rights record
Morocco, Local, 10/13/1998

The Moroccan Human Rights Advisory Council (CCDH) announced on Monday that 28 "political" detainees will be released shortly.

The Council studied 48 cases among which 28 "political" detainees will be freed, CCDH chairman Driss Dahak told the press in Rabat.

The Council submitted to King Hassan II an opinion for the liberation of these 28 detainees, he said, adding that the king approved the CCDH opinion.

Last week, King Hassan II announced Morocco's "firm determination" to close definitively the human rights file in the six coming months.

"It is our determination to definitively close the human rights dossier in the six coming months," King Hassan II said in a speech at the opening of the fall session of the Moroccan parliament.

The king added that he would give instructions for the implementation of some requests submitted by the CCDH.

The Council, set up by the King in 1990, is a national institution in charge of protecting and promoting human rights and consolidating a human rights culture in Morocco.

The council, which is independent from the legislative, executive and judiciary powers, issues consultative opinions that are submitted to the king.

The council, wherein all the trends of the civil society are represented, is chaired by the president of the supreme court and includes 5 ministers.

The remaining 20 detainees include 12 students sentenced to 20 years jail terms each for the assassination of a student in Oujda, eastern Morocco, Dahak said. He added that the cases of these 12 students will be studied in a more thorough manner.

Touching on missing persons, Dahak said the commission in charge of studying the issue identified 112 cases on the basis of data collected from different sources, including complaints and information from national and international human rights organizations.

Fifty six missing persons, including a lebanese national, died, Dahak said, citing government sources. He added that four other persons are still alive and live in Morocco, while 8 others, including a Libyan national have left Morocco.

The fate of 44 other missing persons is still unknown, he said, adding that there are strong indications that 6 among these persons died.

Regarding the issue of the death of detainees in captivity or in police stations, the CCDH chairman said the Council examined 45 death cases since 1989. He said that the public prosecutor decided not to file law suits in certain cases, while other specific cases are under the scrutiny of justice. He added that 34 death certificates were delivered to the families of the concerned persons.

The CCDH chief said out of 16 cases who were denied a passport, 5 persons obtained a passport while the case of the remaining persons will be examined later.

To a question on the fate of Sahrawis reported missing, Dahak said the council focused on cases of civilians reported missing, according to national and international organizations, inside Morocco outside the clashes in the Moroccan Sahara.

Touching on the case of the leader of the Moroccan Islamist "Al Adl Wa Al Ihssane" Association, Abdeslam Yassine, and of opponent Abraham Serfaty, Dahak said the two men's cases were not on the CCDH agenda.

Abdeslam Yassine has been under house arrest since 1989 in the Rabat twin city of Sale.

Previous Stories:
  King Hassan II: Morocco determined to clear human rights record   (10/10/1998)
  Historic decisions on human rights by Morocco   (10/3/1998)
  Moroccan officials outline Morocco's economic and political reforms   (7/2/1998)

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