25 October 2010

Morocco: Abdellatif Akhdif disappeared, life in danger

Mr Abdellatif Akhdife Ben Bouchaib was abducted by Moroccan security agents on 17 October 2010. He was escorted to an unmarked vehicle, and driven to an unknown location.

On 25 October 2010 Alkarama sent an urgent appeal to the Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) requesting it to intervene with the Moroccan authorities in order that Mr Akhdife be released or have placed under legal protection.

Mr Akhdife, 55, who lives in Casablanca, was abducted while leaving his home on his way to the local mosque. Plain-clothed security agents abducted him without an arrest warrant, as witnesses looked on. One of the witnesses tried to intervene, but an agent warned him "Do not interfere, we're the police!".

Following Mr Akhdife's abduction, his family spoke with local police officers and authorities in Casablanca but none of them recognized his detention.

Therefore, on 21 October 2010 the family decided to file a complaint against the charges of "kidnapping" and "disappearance" with the general prosecutor. They also filed a missing person report with the police station in Casablanca's 3rd district.

The family's victim greatly fears for the life of Mr Akhdife as he suffers kidney failure which requires a regular medical follow-up.

In the WGEID's mission report (A/HRC/13/31/Add.1) on Morocco, published on 9 February 2010 (following the WGEID's official visit to Morocco between 22 and 25 June 2009), it confirmed having received allegations that arrests, abductions and long term provisional detentions were taking place under the pretext of the so-called "fight against terrorism". While in custody, the victims were not given access to a lawyer and their families were left uninformed.