Kerry Kennedy condemns Moroccan smear campaign against Aminatou Haidar | Sahara Press Service

Washington (USA) 01 October 2020 (SPS)- The President of the Robert F. Kennedy Foundation, Ms. Kerry Kennedy, condemned Moroccan smear campaign against the President of the Saharawi Organ against Moroccan Occupation (ISACOM), in a Twit she published on her Twitter Account Today.

“I condemn Morocco’s smear campaign and threats against Sahrawi human rights defender and 2008 RFK Human Rights Award Laureate, Ms. Aminatou Haidar,” Kerry Kennedy wrote.

She further stressed that the peaceful work of Aminatou Haidar “is critical for protecting the rights of all Sahrawis,” and expressed solidarity to the human rights defender.

It should be recalled that the Moroccan Media and authorities started a smear campaign against Aminatou Haidar since she declared, with other Saharawi human rights defenders, the constitution of a new NGO that they called the Saharawi Organ against Moroccan Occupation (ISACOM- In Spanish abbreviation).

The Moroccan judicial system published a statement on the Ministry’s Facebook account declaring that it will undertake a judicial investigation against Aminatou Haidar and her colleagues.

International organisations were alerted about this threat, when ISACOM issued a Press Release declaring it took note “with great condemnation, of the smear campaign waged by parties that are hostile to freedom, and warns against the atmosphere of intimidation created by media reports that are presented as opinions, which aim at fueling the fire of odious chauvinism and racism against Saharawis.”

It further urged “the international community to intervene to prevent further deterioration of the human rights situation in Western Sahara, and warns against the results of this escalation campaign against Sahrawi activists opposing the Moroccan occupation, especially as it has begun to take the form of preparing for arrests in order to take revenge on them in Moroccan mock trials.” (SPS)

090/500/60 (SPS)