Aminatou Haidar

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Aminatou Haidar
أميناتو حيدر
Aminatou Haidar making a "V-for-victory" sign
Born 24 July 1966(1966-07-24) or 1967
Akka, Morocco or El Aaiún, Spanish Sahara
Residence El Aaiún, Western Sahara
Ethnicity Sahrawi
Known for Human rights defender, Political activist
Religion Sunni Islam
Children two
Parents Ali Haidar (father), Darya Mohamed Fadel Lorosi Busaula (mother)
Awards Juan Maria Bandres Human Rights Award, Silver Rose Award, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award, Civil Courage Prize, Jovellanos 'Resistance & Freedom' International Award, University of Coimbra Medal

Aminatou Ali Ahmed Haidar (Arabic: أحمد علي حيدر أميناتو‎; born 24 July 1966 or 1967), sometimes known as Aminetou, Aminatu or Aminetu, is a Sahrawi human rights defender and political activist. She is a leading activist for the independence of Western Sahara. She is sometimes called the "Sahrawi Gandhi" for her nonviolent protests, including hunger strikes, in the support of the independence of Western Sahara.[1][2] She is the president of the Collective Of Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders (CODESA).

Contents

Biography

Aminatou was born in 1966 in Akka, Morocco[3] her grandmother's town, or in 1967 in El Aaiún, Western Sahara.[4] She spent her childhood in her parents town, Tan-Tan (formerly part of the Spanish West Africa). She lives in El Aaiún in Western Sahara, with her two children (Muhammad and Hayat), is divorced, and holds a baccalaureate in modern literature. She recognizes herself as a supporter of Polisario.[citation needed]

"Disappeared", 1987-1991

On 21 November 1987, she became one of the hundreds of Sahrawis who 'disappeared' in Moroccan prisons. After years of torture and interrogation (she spent her entire imprisonment blindfolded, because of which she suffers photophobia, as well as other health problems[5]), she was finally released on 19 June 1991.

She had been held in prison for nearly four years without any charges or trial, in secret detention centres. The Moroccan authorities have never provided a formal reason for her arrest and "disappearance", but it is believed that she was targeted for peacefully demanding the right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination.[6]

Imprisonment, trial and sentence, 2005

She was incarcerated for the second time in the Black Prison of El Aaiún on 17 June 2005, after having been arrested in a hospital where she was receiving treatment for injuries inflicted by Moroccan police,[7] during a peaceful demonstration in the Western Sahara Independence Intifada. Reportedly[by whom?], she was tortured during interrogations. Amnesty International has expressed great concern about the situation of Sahrawi prisoners in Moroccan-controlled Western Sahara, and specifically taken an interest in the case of Aminatou Haidar, expressing fear that her right to a fair trial might not be respected, and stating that she may be a prisoner of conscience.[6]

On 14 December 2005, Aminatou Haidar was sentenced to seven months in prison by a Moroccan court in El Aaiún. Amnesty, which had sent an observer to cover the trial, was immediately sharply critical of the Moroccan government, and said it was strengthened in its belief that she may be a prisoner of conscience.[8]

There was an international campaign for Aminatou Haidar's release[9] supported by 178 members of the European Parliament.[10] The parliament also called for her immediate release in a resolution in October 2005.[11]

Release from prison, 2006

Aminatou Haidar with friends in Lemleihess (Western Sahara), after her release from prison. 18 January 2006

On 17 January 2006, Aminatou Haidar was released at the end of her sentence.[12] A demonstration received her in Lemleihess (35 km. east of El-Aaiun), because Moroccan authorities didn't allowed her family to receive her in their own house. She reportedly commented that

“ "...the joy is incomplete without the release of all Saharawi political prisoners, and without the liberation of all the territories of the homeland still under the occupation of the oppressor" ”

—Aminetu Haidar. Lemleihess (Western Sahara). 17-01-2006.[13]

.

After this discharge, Aminatou Haidar was granted compensation of 45,000 euros[citation needed] from the Equity and Reconciliation Commission (IER) established by the Moroccan government to compensate the victims of arbitrary arrest.

Detention and deportation from El-Aaiún, 2009

On 13 November 2009, Aminatou Haidar was arrested on her return to El-Aaiún for allegedly refusing to enter "Morocco" in the "Country" box on her entry card, instead leaving the citizenship line blank on her customs form, and writing "Western Sahara" — the disputed territory where she lives — in the address line. She had done the same many times previously without problems.

She later declared that she was not visiting Morocco but Western Sahara. She refuses to accept that Western Sahara is a part of Morocco. "They want to compel me to recognize that Western Sahara belongs to Morocco," she declared to journalists on 14 November.[14]

Haidar arrived at El-Aaiún airport from Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands. She was with two Spanish journalists, Pedro Barbadillo and Pedro Guillén, who accompanied her with the intention of making a documentary about human rights abuses in Western Sahara. The two journalists were detained for trespassing and filming in the airport without prior authorisation. The Moroccan authorities claim that Haidar declared she was renouncing her Moroccan citizenship and that she voluntarily signed the renunciation documents, and surrendered her passport and national ID card. Following this alleged renunciation, she was deported, along with the two journalists that accompanied her, to Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. Barbadillo, who was with her when she completed the entry documents to travel to Western Sahara, claims that the Moroccan government's version of events is false and declared he saw her completing the form himself.[15] Documents that were retrieved and published in the Spanish newspaper "El Pais" show that the Moroccan government had made three different flight reservations for Haidar, indicating that they had planned to expel her from the country days in advance of her actual arrival. Because they did not know with certainty when she would be arriving, they booked seats in her name on three different flights, so they could deport her whenever she arrived.[16]

According to El Pais, Haidar informed the pilot on her flight back to Spanish territory that she did not have documents to travel and was being held against her will. The pilot was doubtful, but finally took off after receiving a call from Spanish authorities.[16] The party finally arrived at Lanzarote about noon on Saturday evening, and Haidar sought the urgent intervention of the United Nations Secretary General to "ensure personal protection" and declined to leave the departure terminal at Lanzarote airport, claiming that the Spanish authorities had kidnapped her by declining to allow her to board another international flight (to El-Aaiún) because she was unable to produce her passport. She was apparently entitled to travel within Spanish territory.[17][not in citation given] Mohamed Salem, a delegate of the Frente Polisario in Canarias, claimed that she intended to remain at the terminal of Lanzarote airport, and engage in a hunger strike in protest against her kidnap by the Spanish authorities.[18]

On 17 November, while on hunger strike, she was told by the Spanish authorities to appear in court on public order charges.[19]

A fine of 180 euros was imposed by the Spanish court for public order disturbance.[20]

Moroccan delegation visits Spain

Spanish newspaper El País reported that a Moroccan delegation led by the President of the Moroccan Senate, Mohamed Cheikh Biadillah, visited Spain in early December 2009. He insisted that the Sahrawi people are fully integrated into Moroccan society and occupy some of the highest offices in Moroccan institutions. He insisted that no country would accept the return of a person who had "thrown away their passport" and "has renounced their nationality".

Biadillah later met with Jorge Moragas, coordinator of the main opposition People's Party, which intends to bring an action against the (socialist led) Spanish Government, alleging it violated two articles of the law on foreigners by implicitly assisting Morocco to force Haidar to cross the Spanish border on 14 November in Lanzarote.

International public figures show support for Haidar

Image of Aminatou Haidar displayed in numerous pamphlets, banners and signs at the demonstrations during her hunger strike in 2009

Ever since Haidar was deported, numerous actors, writers, musicians, politicians, human rights activists and personalities have shown support for her cause and have asked both the Moroccan and Spanish governments to resolve the situation. In November, Portuguese Nobel Prize-winning writer José Saramago who has a home in Lanzarote, sent her a letter of support,[21][22] saying that "If I were in Lanzarote, I would be with you" (he was away from the island) and stating "We would all be poorer without Haidar". About Morocco he declared "Whoever is confident about its past doesn't need to expropiate its neighbour to express a greatness that no one will never recognize".[23] Later, on 1 December, Saramago finally met Haidar at Lanzarote's airport to show her his "respect and admiration". He also declared that "It's time for the international community to pressure Morocco to comply with the accords about the Sahara".[24]

Eduardo Galeano and Javier Bardem are among the personalities that have asked both governments to put an end to this situation whish they describe as an injustice. Bardem published an open letter in the Spanish newspaper El Mundo in which he expressed his "support and respect for the human rights campaigner and representative of the Sahrawi people." His letter criticizes the Spanish government as "blind"[25] Galeano has also shown his solidarity with Haidar. He has thanked her for her "bravery". He also said in his letter: "People like you help us confirm that a fight for another world is not and will never be a useless passion. Thank you very much. Lots of people love you, and I am one of them.".[25] Writer Alberto Vázquez-Figueroa also give Haidar his support.[26]

Argentinian Nobel Peace laureate Adolfo Pérez Esquivel asked for a "humanitarian and political exit" for Haidar, and called the Spanish and Moroccan governments to undertake dialogue to see "in what ways could the European Union, Council of Europe or even the United Nations intervene to avoid a tragic outcome and try to save her life, but not at any cost.".[27]

British film-makers Ken Loach and Paul Laverty sent two letters to newspapers, one to El País and another to The Guardian. In the first one they draw a parallel between the figure of Haidar and the figure of Rosa Parks, and stated "What tragedy would be for the non-violent resistance, and for the possibility of a pacific solution, that we let her die.". They asked the Spanish government to guarantee her safe return home.[28] In the other one, they began by referring to a collective letter sent to Juan Carlos I, asking for his mediation with the Moroccan Sultan, and their belief that begging won't bring a solution. Then they blamed Mohamed IV for "ignoring international standards, human rights law and the international court of justice...behaving like some medieval despot" and accused him of "threaten[ing] Spain with impoverished Moroccans across the straits, or turning a blind eye to Islamic fundamentalists". They finally highlighted the non-violent resistance of Haidar, and demand justice as human beings.[29]

On 10 December 2009, a letter was sent to the King of Spain, asking him to intercede for Haidar with Morocco. The letter was signed by three Nobel laureates - (Günter Grass, Dario Fo and José Saramago) - as well as other international personalities including Pedro Almodóvar, Mario Vargas Llosa, Penélope Cruz, Antonio Gala, Almudena Grandes, Carlos Fuentes and Ignacio Ramonet among others, from India, Puerto Rico, Portugal, Colombia, Brazil and Angola among others.[30]

On 29 December, a free concert to show solidarity with Aminetou Haidar was held in Rivas Vaciamadrid, on the outskirts of Madrid, with performances by Bebe, Kiko Veneno, Macaco, Amaral, Pedro Guerra, Mariem Hassan, Conchita, Miguel Ríos and Ismael Serrano among others.[31]

United States involvement

Ban Ki-moon and European Union leaders were seeking a means of applying some effective pressure on Morocco. The solution, according to some diplomatic sources, might be a US intervention that went beyond the statement it released on 26 November, in which the State Department expressed "concern" about the health of Haidar and called for respect of her rights. According to El País, the US finally entered the crisis, triggered by the expulsion of Aminatou Haidar, by contributing more international pressure on the king of Morocco to allow the return of Sahrawi activist to the city where she lived with her family.

US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, has contacted the Moroccan Foreign Minister Taieb Fassi-Fihri, according to diplomatic sources in Brussels. Spanish diplomats welcomed the move, but say it has not been made at their behest.

On 11 December 2009 Haidar entered her 25th day of hunger strike in the airport of Lanzarote and Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos announced he was to make an ad-hoc trip to Washington three days later for talks with his counterpart. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke with Moroccan Foreign Minister Taieb Fassi Fihri asking him to allow Aminatou to return to her home in El Aaiun.[32]

Return home

On 18 December 2009, following 32 days on hunger strike and a brief admission to the intensive care unit of Lanzarote hospital, the BBC reported Haidar returned home following interventions by the US and France. Upon her return, Haidar was placed under house arrest by Moroccan police.[33]

Awards and nominations

Aminatou Haidar in South Africa, visiting former cell of Nelson Mandela in Robben Island prison. 26 July 2006.

In 2005 she was nominated for the Sakharov Prize, and in 2006 she was nominated by the US branch of Amnesty International to the Ginetta Sagan Fund Award.[34]

In May 2006 Haidar was awarded the V Juan Maria Bandres award for Human Rights (Spain), and in October 2007 she received the European Parliament Silver Rose Award (Austria)[35]

In February 2008, the American Friends Service Committee[36] announced it had proposed Haidar as a Nobel Peace Prize nominee. In May 2008, she was awarded the Special Prize City of Castelldefels (Spain),[37] given by the city council. Haidar won the 2008 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award (US). In addition to the prize (which includes a financial component), the RFK Memorial Center offers to partner with recipients in their work.[38]

Haidar was awarded the 2009 Civil Courage Prize (US) on 20 October 2009 at an award ceremony in New York City.[39]

In January 2010, the Italian municipality of Sesto Fiorentino appointed Haidar as "Honorary Citizen" of the village, for her "non-violent struggle for Liberty and Human Rights for her people".[40][41] Days later , another Italian municipality, Campi Bisenzio, decided by a majority to grant her "Honorary Citizenship".[42] On 30 July 2010, another ten towns from the Italian province of Lucca decided to give the "Honorary Citizenship" to Haidar (one of them, Stazzema, gave her also the "Gold Medal of Resistance"). A further 20 Italian towns have appointed Aminatou Haidar as "Honorary Citizen".[43]

Haidar has been also awarded in 2010 with the I Jovellanos 'Resistance & Freedom' International Award (Spain),[44] the "Liberty, Peace & Solidarity" prize on the XXXIV "The Best of 2009" awards, given by the Spanish weekly magazine Cambio 16[45][46] & the VI Dolores Ibárruri Prize (Spain). She has been nominated again by more than 40 European parliamentarians to the Sakharov Prize, in its 2010 edition,[47] and also to the "African Personality 2010" prix, given by the Nigerian newspaper Daily Trust.[48] Few days after, europarlamentarian Willy Meyer Pleite denounced a campaign of letters by Morocco to avoid the concession of the prize to Haidar.[49] In November, Haidar was awarded with the "University of Coimbra Medal", given by the Portuguese educational institution for her attitude and civic actuations in defense of human rights in Western Sahara.[50] That month, she also received the "International Prize Trojan Horse of Guacales" (Mexico) at the UNAM, during the "Revolutionary Women's Day".[51]

See also

References

  1. ^ Sahara hunger strike
  2. ^ The Saharawi non-violent activist Aminetou Haidar, confined in the Lanzarote airport in Spain on hunger strike
  3. ^ http://www.hespress.com/_img/aminatoupasseport1525.jpg Copy of the moroccan Passeport of Aminatou Haidar as published in a Moroccan internet newspaper
  4. ^ Members of the CODESA secretariat
  5. ^ Hernán Zin. (11-04-2007). "Aminetu Haidar, víctima de torturas en las cárceles de Marruecos". 20 minutos. http://blogs.20minutos.es/enguerra/2007/04/11/aminetu-haidar-victima-torturas-y-vejaciones-las-carceles/. Retrieved 07-09-2010.  (Spanish)
  6. ^ a b Morocco/Western Sahara: Sahrawi human rights defenders under attack, International Amnesty, 24 November 2005.
  7. ^ La activista Aminetu Haidar sale de prisión tras cumplir condena y es recibida por cientos de saharauis. El Mundo, 17 January 2006
  8. ^ Morocco/Western Sahara: Human rights defenders jailed after questionable trial, Amnesty International, 15 December 2005
  9. ^ campaign Free Aminatou Haidar
  10. ^ Members of the European Parlament who support the International Campaign for the liberation of AMINATOU HAIDAR and of all Saharawi political prisoners.
  11. ^ European Parliament resolution on human rights in Western Sahara, 27 October 2005.
  12. ^ Aminatou Haidar is free after 7 months in the Black Prison
  13. ^ Saharawi political prisoner Aminatou Haidar released Today in El Aaiun, Sahara Press Service, 17 January 2006.
  14. ^ [1], El País, 14 November 2009.
  15. ^ [2], El Pais, 14 November 2009.
  16. ^ a b [3], El Pais, 26 November 2009.
  17. ^ Partidos marroquíes condenan la "provocación" de la saharaui Aminatu Haidar, EFE, 15 November 2009.
  18. ^ La huelga de hambre de la saharaui Haidar pone en aprietos a Exteriores, El Pais, 17 November 2009.
  19. ^ Saharan activist 'facing court', BBC, 17 November 2009.
  20. ^ Elpais.com (Spanish)
  21. ^ "Carta de José Saramago a Aminetu Haidar". Diario de Lanzarote. 23-11-2009. http://www.diariodelanzarote.com/opinion/2009/11/23112009-jose_saramago.htm. Retrieved 27-09-2010.  (Spanish)
  22. ^ [4], tomasvte.
  23. ^ "http://www.laprovincia.es/lanzarote/2009/11/23/jose-saramago-seriamos-pobres-aminatu-haidar/270915.html". Las Provincias. 23-11-2009. http://www.laprovincia.es/lanzarote/2009/11/23/jose-saramago-seriamos-pobres-aminatu-haidar/270915.html. Retrieved 27-09-2010.  (Spanish)
  24. ^ "Es hora de que la comunidad internacional imponga a Marruecos que cumpla los acuerdos sobre el Sáhara". Diario de Lanzarote. 01-12-2009. http://www.diariodelanzarote.com/2009/12/01/sociedad12.htm. Retrieved 27-09-2010.  (Spanish)
  25. ^ a b "Bardem critica la 'cobardía' del Gobierno con la activista saharaui en huelga de hambre". El Mundo. 24-11-2009. http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2009/11/24/espana/1259062717.html. Retrieved 26-09-2010.  (Spanish)
  26. ^ "Aminatu Haidar mantiene su deseo de que la devuelvan a El Aaiún "con o sin" pasaporte". Ecodiario. 23-11-2009. http://ecodiario.eleconomista.es/politica/noticias/1718048/11/09/Aminatu-Haidar-mantiene-su-deseo-de-que-la-devuelvan-a-El-Aaiun-con-o-sin-pasaporte.html. Retrieved 27-09-2010. 
  27. ^ "Adolfo Pérez Esquivel pide la intervención de la UE o la ONU en el caso Haidar". Terra.es (EFE). 10-12-2009. http://noticias.terra.es/mundo/2009/1210/actualidad/adolfo-perez-esquivel-pide-la-intervencion-de-la-ue-o-la-onu-en-el-caso-haidar.aspx. Retrieved 26-09-2010.  (Spanish)
  28. ^ "Aminetu y el asiento de Rosa Parks". El País. 02-12-2009. http://www.elpais.com/articulo/espana/Aminetu/asiento/Rosa/Parks/elpepuesp/20091202elpepinac_4/Tes. Retrieved 27-09-2010.  (Spanish)
  29. ^ "We will not bow to this Moroccan king". The Guardian. 10-12-2009. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/dec/10/morocco-spain-hunger-strike-loach. Retrieved 27-09-2010. 
  30. ^ "Tres premios Nobel piden al Rey que interceda por Haidar ante Marruecos". El País. 10-12-2009. http://www.elpais.com/articulo/espana/premios/Nobel/piden/Rey/interceda/Haidar/Marruecos/elpepuesp/20091210elpepunac_40/Tes#despiece1. Retrieved 27-09-2010.  (Spanish)
  31. ^ "Kiko Veneno, Almodóvar, Bardem, Macaco, Bebe y Amaral, en un concierto solidario". 20 Minutos. 27-11-2009. http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/576018/0/concierto/almodovar/macaco/. Retrieved 27-09-2010.  (Spanish)
  32. ^ http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2009/12/11/breaking_news_morocco_blocks_ailing_western_saharan_human_rights_activist_aminatou_haidar_from_returning_home
  33. ^ "Western Sahara activist faces curbs". Al Jazeera English. 25 December 2009. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2009/12/2009122564840860193.html. Retrieved 19 January 2010. 
  34. ^ http://www.unison.org.uk/file/WSC.pdf
  35. ^ http://www.algerianamericans.com/news/147-aminatou-haidar-returns-to-her-country-western-sahara.html
  36. ^ AFSC Statement
  37. ^ El municipio entrega los Premios Ciutat de Castelldefels 2008 (In Spanish)
  38. ^ Zunes, Stephen, Haidar's Struggle, Foreign Policy in Focus, 7 October 2008
  39. ^ http://www.civilcourageprize.org/honoree-2009.htm
  40. ^ "Cittadinanza onoraria alla pacifista Aminatou Haidar". Comune di Sesto Fiorentino. 14-01-2010. http://www.comune.sesto-fiorentino.fi.it/Engine/RAServePG.php/P/55411SFI1000/M/25101SFI1001. Retrieved 09-06-2010.  (Italian)
  41. ^ "Una ciudad italiana nombra ciudadana de honor a Aminetu Haidar". Europa Press. 16-01-2010. http://www.europapress.es/internacional/noticia-sahara-ciudad-italiana-nombra-ciudadana-honor-aminetu-haidar-20100116191251.html. Retrieved 09-06-2010.  (Spanish)
  42. ^ "Cittadinanza onoraria alla pacifista Aminatou Haidar". Comune Campi Bisenzio. 28-01-2010. http://www.comune.campi-bisenzio.fi.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/5820. Retrieved 25-06-2010.  (Italian)
  43. ^ "Aminetou intestata". Assoziacione di solidarietà con il popolo Saharawi "Ban Slout Larbi". 04-08-2010. http://www.saharawi.it/rassegna/2010/AMINETOU%20_intestata%20%20.doc. Retrieved 08-09-2010.  (Italian)
  44. ^ Jovellanos 'Resistance & Freedom' International Award
  45. ^ "Aminatou Haidar rewarded Best of 2009 for freedom and peace advocacy". SPS. 25-06-2010. http://www.spsrasd.info/en/detail.php?id=12185. Retrieved 25-06-2010. 
  46. ^ XXXIV Premios Cambio 16 - Los mejores de 2009 (Spanish)
  47. ^ "Fariñas y Aminatu Haidar, candidatos al Premio Sajarov de la Eurocámara". El Mundo. 22-09-2010. http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2010/09/22/union_europea/1285184137.html. Retrieved 24-09-2010.  (Spanish)
  48. ^ "La militante sahraouie, Aminatou Haidar candidate du prix "Daily Trust" pour l’année 2010". SPS. 07-10-2010. http://www.spsrasd.info/fr/detail.php?id=13679. Retrieved 07-10-2010.  (French)
  49. ^ "Meyer denuncia campaña de Marruecos para evitar que Haidar reciba premio". El Norte de Castilla (EFE). 07-10-2010. http://www.nortecastilla.es/agencias/20101007/mas-actualidad/vida-ocio/meyer-denuncia-campana-marruecos-para_201010072020.html. Retrieved 08-10-2010.  (Spanish)
  50. ^ "Aminatu Haidar distinguida com a Medalha da Universidade de Coimbra". Universidade de Coimbra. 04-11-2010. http://www.uc.pt/UC/media_uc/pr_1011/101104A1.pdf. Retrieved 07-11-2010.  (Portuguese)
  51. ^ "Reconocimiento a la defensora de los derechos humanos Aminatu Haidar". El Sol de Mexico. 21-11-2010. http://www.oem.com.mx/elsoldemexico/notas/n1861539.htm. Retrieved 26-11-2010.  (Spanish)

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