Amnesty International
"In 2014, 27-year-old Moroccan activist Wafae Charaf was sentenced to
two years in prison after she reported being tortured following her
attendance at a protest. When 22-year-old Oussama Housne did the same,
he received three years in jail. Both were convicted for “falsely
reporting” torture and for slandering Morocco’s police force, even
though neither of them accused the police.Amnesty International
considers them to be prisoners of conscience.
The convictions of Wafae Charaf and Oussama Housne send a chilling message to any survivor of torture who considers complaining about their abuse that they might end up behind bars for doing so. But torture can only be stopped when torture victims can safely speak out and claim justice.
Click here for more information and ONLINE PETITION.
Published on May 19, 2015 (1:00 min)
Anyone
can be tortured – protesters, political or student activists, as well
as people suspected of terrorism offences or ordinary crimes. Moroccan
legislation outlaws torture and the authorities have repeatedly
promised to eradicate it, yet existing safeguards in police custody and
courts are routinely flouted and accountability remains elusive.Abuse
can begin from the moment of arrest, in broad daylight or behind the
tinted windows of police vehicles. In the absence of sufficient
safeguards, police interrogations can turn violent, often to force
suspects to “confess”.
Courts often fail to act when first confronted with signs of torture, reinforcing the climate of impunity.In the cases where courts grant medical examinations, these are often sub-standard. Torturers are given further incentives for their crimes when coerced “confessions” are used to secure convictions.
Courts often fail to act when first confronted with signs of torture, reinforcing the climate of impunity.In the cases where courts grant medical examinations, these are often sub-standard. Torturers are given further incentives for their crimes when coerced “confessions” are used to secure convictions.
