LETTER TO THE KING OF MOROCCO ON CHAKIB EL KHAYARI

Brussels, 26 June 2009

On this International Day Against Drugs we ask your attention for the fate of the prominent Moroccan human rights activist Chakib El Khayari.

Chakib El Khayari has been arrested in Casablanca on 18 February 2009. As chairman of the Human Rights Association of the Rif, he had made critical declarations in the press concerning the level of corruption in the drug control agencies of the Moroccan state. These agencies turn a blind eye to the illicit export of hash from Morocco, and carry out a repressive policy with regards to the farmers who grow cannabis. Both policies undermine the development of the region in various ways.

The accusations against El Khayari did not justify his detention. Various human rights organisations have asked for his release, many letters have been sent to the Moroccan authorities, but until now, there are no signs that Morocco takes these calls seriously.

On Wednesday 24 June, El Khayari was condemned to three years in prison and 68.000 euro fine, for "offending the authorities and making unauthorised currency transactions." The latter refers to accusations that el Khayari received (a few hundred) euro to pay a plane ticket to Europe. El Khayari has been invited regularly to all kinds of congresses and conferences in Europe.

The verdict against El Khayari is a sad example of the state of both the human rights situation and of the fight against drugs in Morocco. Moroccan authorities do not want the truth about a failed drug policy to be heard.

Chakib El Khayari is a courageous man, not afraid to stand up against drug traffickers and corrupt officials. He is the kind of citizen that Morocco should be proud of. This verdict damages the reputation of the country and its drug policies.

We ask you to do anything that is within your possibilities to obtain the immediate release of Chakib El Khayari.

Waiting for your response, Your Majesty, we remain,

Sincerely yours.

On behalf of ENCOD,

Marisa Felicissimo, Belgium
 Antonio Escobar, Spain
 Joep Oomen, Belgium
 Frederick Polak, The Netherlands
 Jorge Roque, Portugal

You can copy this letter, sign it with your name and send it to the embassy of Morocco in your country. For a list of Moroccan embassies, see this page.

You can also send it to the embassy of your own country in Morocco or to the delegation of the European Commission in Morocco:

Délégation de la Commission européenne au Maroc
 Riad Business Center, aile sud
 Boulevard Er-Riad, quartier Hay Riad,
 Boîte postale 1302
 Rabat, Maroc

Téléphone: 00 98 57 37 212
 E-mail: delegation-morocco at ec.europa.eu

For updated information see FreeChakib.com

See an interview with Chakib on Amazigh.tv