Morocco/Western Sahara: Justice must begin with torture inquiries

With trials of Sahrawi demonstrators beginning this week in Laayoune, Amnesty International has called on the Moroccan government to ensure that all reports of torture and ill-treatment of detainees held in connection with recent disturbances in Western Sahara are fully and impartially investigated and that all those charged are guaranteed fair trials. Amnesty International said it was greatly disturbed by reports of torture and excessive use of force by Moroccan security personnel when dispersing Sahrawi protestors during demonstrations in Laayoune and several other cities in Morocco and Western Sahara in late May and early June.