RFK Center Condemns Morocco's Detention of Decorated Human Rights Defender,
Aminatou Haidar

By Jesse Berney
Created Nov 13 2009 - 7:41pm

Washington, DC - The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights
(RFK Center) strongly condemns the detention of 2008 Robert F. Kennedy Human
Rights Laureate, Aminatou Haidar, by Moroccan authorities today upon her
arrival at the airport in Laayoune, Western Sahara.

Ms. Haidar returned to Western Sahara today after a visit to the United
States to receive the Civil Courage Prize awarded by the Train Foundation
for her courageous defense of the rights and liberties of the Sahrawi
people. While in the U.S., she briefed Congressional staff members on the
current state of human rights in Western Sahara. She also met with
representatives of UN member states. Ms. Haidar traveled to Western Sahara
escorted by associates from Spain, who have reportedly been detained along
with her.

RFK Center believes the detention of Ms. Haidar is directly related to her
work in the defense of human rights.

RFK Center urges the authorities in Morocco to:

1. Immediately and unconditionally release Aminatou Haidar;

2. Take all necessary measures to guarantee her physical and psychological
integrity;

3 Guarantee the protection of her fundamental human rights, as enshrined in
several international instruments, including the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights, which Morocco has ratified; and

4. Guarantee that Ms. Haidar is able to continue her work as a human rights
defender without fear of reprisal.