Sidati urges EU to intervene for “immediate, unconditional” release of “Gdeim Izik” prisoners

BRUSSELS- Sahrawi deputy minister for Europe Mohamed Sidati urged Wednesday the European Union (EU) to intervene to  contribute to the “immediate and unconditional” release of the Sahrawi political prisoners of Gdeim Izik group.

“We call on EU to intervene to contribute to the immediate and unconditional release of these Sahrawi political prisoners, by referring to human rights clauses enshrined in the partnership agreements with Rabat,” he told APS, underlining that such an action is likely to “contribute to the relaunch of UN peace process concerning Western Sahara, blocked by the Moroccan occupier so far.”

Pointing out the worrying circumstances in which their trial is taking place, Mohamed Sidati affirmed that EU “cannot remain indifferent” as it emanates from Morocco, a State related to EU by association and good neighbourhood agreements.

In this regard, the Sahrawi minister dubbed “illegal” the trial of the Sahrawi political prisoners of Gdeim Izik for more than one reason, insofar as it takes place outside Western Sahara, “non-self governing territory according to UN, separate from Morocco according to the Court of Justice of the European Union.

He underlined, in this regard, that “only an impartial body, respecting the rule of procedures, meeting equity and law criteria, in the presence of international observers and guaranteeing the rights of defence, will legitimately be able to judge them,” regretting that it is far from being the case.