Police authorities deny torture allegations on union member

The Chief of the regional security in Safi city (300 km south Rabat) denied torture allegations on trade union member, Rachid Chraii, arrested on April 22nd "for abetting civil disorder and involvement in trying to prevent the police from arresting a drug trafficker."

In a clarification sent to "Assabah" and "Bayane Al Yaoum" dailies, which reported earlier the arrest of Rachid Charaii, representative of the national union of local councils' clerks, affiliated to the Democratic Labour Confederation (CDT), the source said that a train of medical check-ups revealed "no signs of torture (..) except for a scratch in one of his ears."

He stressed that the arrest took place because Charaii "participated in a rebellion against the security forces who were trying on April 21st to apprehend a recidivist drug trafficker." "It was established that Rachid Chraii was behind this demonstration, calling the crowd to counter the security forces, while trying at the same time to help the drug trafficker flee," he went on.