Mohamed al-Bambary (1969/70) is a Sahrawi media activist.[1] He was arrested and charged with "belonging to a criminal gang, taking part in a murder, contributing to a public disturbance, battery resulting in death, vandalism of public property, and assaulting officials in the performance of their duties,”.[2] Initially sentenced to twelve years imprisonment, his term was reduced to six years following a re-trial.[2][3]
Mohamed al-Bambary | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1969/70 |
| Nationality | Sahrawi |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Known for | Media activism |
Background
editMohamed al-Bambary is a media activist affiliated with Equipe Media, which is one of Western Sahara's foremost independent news sources.[1] On September 26, 2011, the conclusion of a soccer game in Dakhla culminated in a large-scale brawl between two neighborhoods of the city.[2] Al-Bambary captured videos of this violet riot, which lasted several days and resulted in the deaths of seven individuals, including two members of the police force.[2][1]
2015 Arrest and Sentence
editOn August 27, 2015, al-Bambary was arrested when he went to the Dakhla police station with the intent to renew his identification card.[1] The authorities charged him with "belonging to a criminal gang, taking part in a murder, contributing to a public disturbance, battery resulting in death, vandalism of public property, and assaulting officials in the performance of their duties,”.[2] He was beaten and forced to sign a confession.[1]
Three months after the arrest, al-Bambary was sentenced to twelve years of prison in a trial that was not accessible to the public.[2] In a re-trial in January 2016, his term was reduced to six years.[2] He is serving his sentence in Ait Meloul Prison outside of Agadir, Morocco in crowded conditions.[2][4][5]
International Response
editIn January 2016, Paloma López Bermejo, a member of the European Parliament from Spain, asked a question in parliament about “the arbitrary detention of the journalist and political prisoner Mohamed al-Bambary” to the Vice-president of the European Commission and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini.[2]
In September 2016, human rights focused non-profit Freedom Now submitted a report detailing the case to the UN Human Rights Council during Morocco’s Universal Periodic Review.[6]
In May 2017, Freedom Now and Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights submitted a petition to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on behalf of Mohamed al-Bambary.[7] In June 2018, the Working Group determined that his detention is arbitrary and violates international law.[8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e Constantinides, Catherine (June 21, 2018). "Who is Mohamed al-Bambary and why should we care?". Daily Maverick. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Western Sahara: A Desert For Journalists" (PDF). Reporters Without Borders. June 11, 2019. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
- ^ "Mohamed al-Bambary". Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
- ^ Abdoun, Mohamed (March 31, 2021). "2020 US Report on Human Rights in Morocco: No "Moroccanness" in Western Sahara". La Patrie News. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
- ^ "State Department report on the human rights situation in the world: Sahrawi children engaged in the "worst forms" of work". Radio Algerie. January 4, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
- ^ "Freedom Now – Individual Submission To The Office Of The High Commissioner For Human Rights Universal Periodic Review (Upr): Kingdom Of Morocco 27th Session Human Rights Council – UPR Working Group" (PDF). Freedom Now. September 21, 2016. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
- ^ "Petition To: United Nations Working Group On Arbitrary Detention" (PDF). Freedom Now. March 10, 2017. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
- ^ "Opinions adopted by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention at its eighty-first session, (17 to 26 April 2018) Opinion No. 31/2018 concerning Mohamed Al-Bambary (Morocco)". OHCHR. September 28, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2021.