Mohamed al-Bambary | |
---|---|
Born | 1969/70 |
Nationality | Sahrawi |
Occupation | Journalist |
Known for | Media activism |
Mohamed al-Bambary (1969/70) is a Sahrawi media activist. [1] He was arrested and charged with "belonging to a criminal gang, taking part in a murder, contributing to a public disturbance, battery resulting in death, vandalism of public property, and assaulting officials in the performance of their duties,”. [2] Initially sentenced to twelve years imprisonment, his term was reduced to six years following a re-trial. [2] [3]
Mohamed al-Bambary is a media activist affiliated with Equipe Media, which is one of Western Sahara's foremost independent news sources. [1] On September 26, 2011, the conclusion of a soccer game in Dakhla culminated in a large-scale brawl between two neighborhoods of the city. [2] Al-Bambary captured videos of this violet riot, which lasted several days and resulted in the deaths of seven individuals, including two members of the police force. [2] [1]
On August 27, 2015, al-Bambary was arrested when he went to the Dakhla police station with the intent to renew his identification card. [1] The authorities charged him with "belonging to a criminal gang, taking part in a murder, contributing to a public disturbance, battery resulting in death, vandalism of public property, and assaulting officials in the performance of their duties,”. [2] He was beaten and forced to sign a confession. [1]
Three months after the arrest, al-Bambary was sentenced to twelve years of prison in a trial that was not accessible to the public. [2] In a re-trial in January 2016, his term was reduced to six years. [2] He is serving his sentence in Ait Meloul Prison outside of Agadir, Morocco in crowded conditions. [2] [4] [5]
In January 2016, Paloma López Bermejo, a member of the European Parliament from Spain, asked a question in parliament about “the arbitrary detention of the journalist and political prisoner Mohamed al-Bambary” to the Vice-president of the European Commission and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini. [2]
In September 2016, human rights focused non-profit Freedom Now submitted a report detailing the case to the UN Human Rights Council during Morocco’s Universal Periodic Review. [6]
In May 2017, Freedom Now and Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights submitted a petition to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on behalf of Mohamed al-Bambary. [7] In June 2018, the Working Group determined that his detention is arbitrary and violates international law. [8]
Mohamed al-Bambary | |
---|---|
Born | 1969/70 |
Nationality | Sahrawi |
Occupation | Journalist |
Known for | Media activism |
Mohamed al-Bambary (1969/70) is a Sahrawi media activist. [1] He was arrested and charged with "belonging to a criminal gang, taking part in a murder, contributing to a public disturbance, battery resulting in death, vandalism of public property, and assaulting officials in the performance of their duties,”. [2] Initially sentenced to twelve years imprisonment, his term was reduced to six years following a re-trial. [2] [3]
Mohamed al-Bambary is a media activist affiliated with Equipe Media, which is one of Western Sahara's foremost independent news sources. [1] On September 26, 2011, the conclusion of a soccer game in Dakhla culminated in a large-scale brawl between two neighborhoods of the city. [2] Al-Bambary captured videos of this violet riot, which lasted several days and resulted in the deaths of seven individuals, including two members of the police force. [2] [1]
On August 27, 2015, al-Bambary was arrested when he went to the Dakhla police station with the intent to renew his identification card. [1] The authorities charged him with "belonging to a criminal gang, taking part in a murder, contributing to a public disturbance, battery resulting in death, vandalism of public property, and assaulting officials in the performance of their duties,”. [2] He was beaten and forced to sign a confession. [1]
Three months after the arrest, al-Bambary was sentenced to twelve years of prison in a trial that was not accessible to the public. [2] In a re-trial in January 2016, his term was reduced to six years. [2] He is serving his sentence in Ait Meloul Prison outside of Agadir, Morocco in crowded conditions. [2] [4] [5]
In January 2016, Paloma López Bermejo, a member of the European Parliament from Spain, asked a question in parliament about “the arbitrary detention of the journalist and political prisoner Mohamed al-Bambary” to the Vice-president of the European Commission and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini. [2]
In September 2016, human rights focused non-profit Freedom Now submitted a report detailing the case to the UN Human Rights Council during Morocco’s Universal Periodic Review. [6]
In May 2017, Freedom Now and Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights submitted a petition to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on behalf of Mohamed al-Bambary. [7] In June 2018, the Working Group determined that his detention is arbitrary and violates international law. [8]