Intergroup Peace for Sahrawi people urges Mogherini to release "Gdeim Izik" prisoners

BRUSSELS-The intergroup Peace for the Sahrawi people at the European Parliament urged the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini to intervene to release all Sahrawi prisoners of "Gdeim Izik" group.

"As MPs of the European Parliament, we express our solidarity with Gdeim lzik group and we request your intervention to release the prisoners of Gdeim Izik group," the Intergroup said in a letter to Mogherini inked by 29 European MPs belonging to various political groups.

In a latter backed by European MPs of the main groups of the Parliament, the Intergroup highlighted the importance of "preserving the fundamental rights of all Sahrawi political prisoners" and "all families of prisoners of Gdeim Izik group."

"All the Sahrawi people and other international observers should be allowed to follow their trials," they stated.

Gdeim Izik group was arrested and found guilty based on confessions obtained by the police under torture and falsified statements, the Intergroup stressed in his letter.

International observers have repeatedly denounced "serious irregularities" in the procedure, as torture and ill-treatment suffered by these prisoners have not been investigated in accordance with the Istanbul protocol.