The Central Bureau of the Moroccan Association of Human Rights has followed in the 1st instance and on appeal the political trial brought against the militants Seddik Kabbouri and Mahjoub Chennou and the unfair trial against eight young people from the city of BOUARFA arbitrarily arrested after the protests and events that the city had known on 18^th of May, 2011. The Central Bureau is surprised and outraged by the sentences passed against them by the Court of Appeal of Oujda related to the case of flagrante delicto No. 1134/2011 on 26^th of July 2011 namely two years in prison for the militants Seddik Kabbouri and Mahjoub Chennou and 16 to 18 months in prison for the eight other young people.

Strongly denouncing these sentences, with no legal basis, and the incredibility of this whole fabricated trial aiming to stop the protest movement that invades the region of Bouarfa, to hark back the gains obtained ​​thanks to the important role of Kabbouri and Chennou in the struggle led by the people of the city, and to neutralize and restrict the action of the human rights militants, trade unionists and politicians, the Central Bureau of MAHR notes once again - as during the trial of the concerned detainees in the 1st instance in Bouarfa on 16^th of June 2011- the different violations the trial had known, in particular:

• The refusal of the request addressed by the defense to call-up the witnesses for the defense.
• The refusal of the serious pleadings of defense especially those related to the request of further investigation by reason of the new data allowing to indeed know what happened in Bouarfa on the 18^th of May.
• The terms of flagrante delicto are not satisfied because the campaign that resulted in the arrest of the first group took place six far-off days after the incidents.
• The absence of arguments that prove the alleged involvement of the accused ones and non-presentation of seizures in disrespect of the necessary legal formalities.
• The verdicts were based primarily on the minutes of the judiciary police, although the defendants have denied all charges and the defense has objected their legality to the prosecutor, the first instance court, and the court of appeal.

Reporting violations, the Central Bureau of AMDH once more denounces the flagrant violation of the terms and standards of fair trial that the case has known and,

• condemns vigorously the verdict and the political trial considered as a flagrant violation of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders of 1998.
• expresses its support and solidarity with the militants Kabbouri, Chennou and their comrades and claims their immediate and unconditional liberation.
• denounces the continued use of justice by the state to get revenge from activists and intimidate citizens.
• salutes all the lawyers who voluntarily participated in defense of the political prisoners, both in 1^st instance and on appeal.
• reaffirms the continuity of its struggle and pressure until the release of the ten militants: Kabbouri, Chennou and their comrades.

 The Central Bureau

                                                                                              Rabat, 18 ^th of July 2011