In 2012, Alkarama had brought before the UN special procedures the case of this man who is accused of having participated in the attack in Marrakesh on 28 April 2011. After his arrest, he had been severely tortured and forced to sign confessions under torture. He was then sentenced to 10 years in prison after an unfair trial. In March 2013, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) issued an opinion concerning his arbitrary detention and demanding his immediate release. To date, the Moroccan authorities have however not implemented this opinion, which like many others remains a dead letter.

On 5 May 2015, the anniversary of his fourth year in detention, Abdessamad decided to start a hunger strike and sent a letter to various authorities and officials to inform them of his demands – that to put an immediate end to his arbitrary detention and to comply with the recommendations of the UN Working Group.

In response, Abdessamad has been subjected to reprisals. He reported having been completely stripped, severely beaten and placed in an isolation cell, which was dirty and infested with rats, where he was denied the minimum standard of hygiene. Deprived of his yard time and private visits, he also was transferred to a wing with mentally-ill incarcerated individuals. Detained under such conditions, Abdessamad saw his health deteriorate rapidly.

It was not until May 19 that his mother and sister eventually managed to visit him, after long waiting hours. Covered in bruises, Abdessamad smelled and was wearing soiled clothes. Transported in a wheelchair, he reported to his family, in a barely audible voice, all acts which he had suffered. Both women expressed great concern about his health, which had deteriorated markedly.

Very worried, the family made numerous requests to the Public Prosecutor of Safi, the Ministry of Justice and the regional office of the National Human Rights Council (NHRC) and asked for their intervention to immediately halt violations which Abdessamad is being subjected to and to guarantee his access to health care.

No action has however been taken in response to the requests and no proceedings have been instituted against the prison director, who had threatened the victim repeatedly of attacks upon his physical and mental integrity. Given this climate of impunity, the family of Abdessamad is now extremely concerned that he will again be subjected to torture and ill-treatment.

Alkarama understands that the Moroccan authorities are required to comply with their commitments enshrined in the UN Convention against Torture (UNCAT), to which Morocco adhered on 21 June 1993, including to ensure that torture is not practiced in prisons and detention centres under its jurisdiction and to take measures to ensure that those responsible for such violations are prosecuted and appropriately punished. Morocco is also required to cooperate with the special procedures of the UN and should comply with their recommendations. It is thus imperative that Abdessamad Bettar and all persons arbitrarily detained in Morocco are immediately released.

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