More good news on Ali Aarrass’ campaign

On 13 May, Amnesty International launched a two-year campaign against torture. It highlighted five countries – Morocco, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines, Uzbekistan –  and five cases, of which one is that of Ali Aarrass. The AI report uses the report of UN Special Rapporteur Juan Mendez and that of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, and echoes the Working Group’s call for Ali’s immediate release. It also calls for a proper investigation of the torture allegations, the installation of video cameras in interrogation areas and for lawyers to be present during questioning.

Amnesty is calling on its supporters to write to the Moroccan minister of justice, Ramid El Mustapha, and to Ali in prison (Salé II, Salé, Morocco). Campaigning materials are available from AI’s London office, for use in schools, solidarity events etc. Ali’s sister Farida is touring Spain with AI (Spain) to publicise the campaign and Ali’s case.

A week after the launch of the campaign, on 21 May, the Moroccan authorities announced a new investigation into Ali’s complaints of torture.

In February, the Belgian state was ordered to provide Ali with consular assistance. The court held that the Hague Convention provisions against assistance of dual nationals in their second ‘home state’ did not apply since Morocco had not ratified the Convention, and that the right of states to intervene diplomatically on behalf of citizens became a duty when the citizen was alleging grave breaches of fundamental rights. The Belgian government’s appeal against this ground-breaking first-instance decision is due to be heard tomorrow, 26 May.

Meanwhile, Ali remains in prison. He has been in custody for a total of six years and nearly two months. Please continue to support him with letters.

Frances Webber