Morocco.In 2010, the religious affiliation in the country was estimated by the Pew Forum as 99.9 percent Muslim, Sunnis form the majority at 67% with non-denominational Muslims being the second largest group of Muslims at 30%: From Wikipedia
Beatings to the soles of his feet, electric shocks to his testicles, prolonged suspension from his wrists and painful burns from cigarettes.
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| Image: Ali with his daughter. |
This is what coffee shop owner and young father, Ali Aarrass, endured at the hands of Moroccan intelligence when he was held in a secret location for 12 days in 2010.
Ali had no contact with his family, no way of calling for help. He was all alone.
He’s now serving 12 years in prison -- a sentence the UN says is based solely on things he said while being tortured.
Ali was extradited to Morocco to face terrorism charges despite grave warnings from Amnesty International and the UN Human Rights Committee that he was at risk of unfair trial and torture.
Convicted and sentenced to 12 years in prison, Ali’s ‘confession’ -- extracted via torture and later recanted in court -- was the only evidence presented at his trial.
The UN’s expert on torture visited Ali in jail along with an independent doctor. Both confirmed the gruesome signs of torture --yet Moroccan authorities have completely failed to investigate.
“It is devastating to be abandoned, forgotten… by those we rely on to fight for justice”, Ali told us.
Today, Ali is being held in Morocco’s notorious Salé II prison and describes ongoing torture, such as being forced to strip naked in his cell and being deprived of sleep.
Torture is barbaric and inhumane. It is wrong, self-defeating and poisons the rule of law. No one is safe when governments allow its use.
It isn’t only terrorism suspects who are tortured. Over the last five years, Amnesty has reported on torture in almost three quarters of the world -- 141 countries, from every region.
Victims of torture are predominantly the poor and the powerless.
By taking action on Ali’s case, you can help us expose governments who torture, and ensure justice for victims.
For human rights,
PS. Victims of torture think they are forgotten and alone. Show them that they’re not. Demand justice for Ali today and help us stop torture.
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