A Signed letter That was sent to the State Department.

October 20, 2009 The Honorable Hillary ClintonSecretary of State2201 C Street, N.W.Washington, D.C. 20520 Dear Secretary Clinton: We are writing to urge you to call upon Morocco to release the seven Sahrawi human rights defenders arrested by Moroccan police as they arrived in Casablanca on October 8, 2009. They were first held incommunicado and are now facing a military court. Ironically, these seven were arrested as they were returning from a visit to the Sahrawi refugee camps outside of Tindouf, Algeria, an area Morocco claims is inaccessible to visitors, but where there is an on-going United Nation’s presence. In fact, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has worked to facilitate visits between family members living in occupied Western Sahara and those living in the refugee camps in Algeria. These seven human rights advocates are known for their peaceful efforts to raise the unlawful and inhumane treatment of Sahrawi citizens in occupied Western Sahara as well as their support for the right to vote, specifically support for the long-promised referendum on self- determination on Western Sahara. Those arrested include: 1) Brahim Dahane, President of the Saharawi Association of Victims of Serious Violations Committed by Morocco (ASVDH); 2) Ali Salem Tamek , First Vice President of the Collective of Saharawi Human Rights Defenders (CODESA) and member of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH); 3) Ahmad Anasiri: General Secretary of the Saharawi Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in Smara and President of AMDH Smara Chapter; 4) Ms. Dagja Lachgar, Member of the Executive Office of ASVDH; 5) Yahdih Ettarrouzi, Member of AMDH Laayounne Chapter; 6) Saleh Lebayhi: President of the Forum for Protection of Sahrawi Children and member of the Laayoune Chapter of CODESA and AMDH; and7) Rachid Sghayar, Member of Committee Action against Torture Most have previously been imprisoned by Morocco including Brahim Duhane and Ms. Dakja Lashgar who were among the “disappeared” from the 1980s, a period when hundreds of Sahrawis disappeared into Moroccan prisons and were tortured and held for many years without any acknowledgment by Moroccan authorities of their existence. Additionally, Ali Salem Tamek was one of Amnesty International’s Prisoners of Conscience for being held in prison in Morocco for his support of human rights and self-determination. We believe that if the United States does not intervene with Morocco to immediately release these seven human rights defenders that their lives will be in grave danger. Furthermore, their arbitrary arrest and secret detention will further stymie the efforts of the United Nations to resolve this conflict peacefully. While we acknowledge and appreciate the long-time friendship between the United States and Morocco, this friendship cannot be an excuse to allow Morocco to commit human rights violations against the Sahrawi people. Finally, we believe that the United States must show solid support for those who work peacefully for justice and self-determination through the rule of law and who renounce terror as a means to achieve own’s objectives, which has been the hallmark of the Sahrawi’s struggle for self-determination. We thank you for the leadership you have shown in defending and upholding human rights around the world and hope that you will gain the release of these seven human rights defenders. Sincerely,
Suzanne Scholte Chairman
                                                       U.S. Western Sahara Foundation
Carlos Wilson Executive Director
cc: Michael Posner, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Ambassador Susan Rice, United States Ambassador to the United Nations.