Monthly Archives: March 2010

Demonstrators at Morocco’s US Embassy Call for Release of Sahrawi Six

Washington D.C.(March 25)… Human rights activists from the United States demonstrated at the Moroccan Embassy today to call for the release of the “Sahrawi Six”, six Sahrawi human rights defenders currently facing a Moroccan military court because they visited their family members in the Sahrawi refugee camps in Algeria.
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Melbourne 30 March** Mariem Hassan: the voice of the Sahara **

A film night about Western Sahara, the former Spanish Sahara, at ACMI presented by Melbourne Filmoteca: Latin American, Spanish & Portuguese Film Group and the Australia Western Sahara Association.
One of the films will take us through the highs and lows of Mariem Hassan’s eventful life to discover her as a courageous and enduring character as we witness her artistic transformation into one of the most charismatic and respected figures of the world music scene.

When: Tuesday 30 March 2010 at 7.30 pm

Where: ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image)
Federation Square, Flinders St, Melbourne
All welcome    Flyer about the event

Tickets: $14, $11 (concession) on sale at box office: (03) 8663 2583
or online at http://www.acmi.net.au/ticketing

Further details: http://www.melbournefilmoteca.org/next.html

Human rights activists in Sale prison now on hunger strike

On October 8, 2009, seven Saharawis were detained by Moroccan security forces at the Mohamed V airport in Casablanca upon returning from the refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria, where they were visiting family and friends. The seven were accused of high treason against Morocco. They are protesting against the extension of their period of detention without trial by a further 2 months. By then they will have been held   without charge for over 6 months. A Spanish law professor says this is   not acceptable in any legal system except Guantanamo.

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Western Sahara activist ‘beaten’ after talking to BBC

By Sam Bagnall
image004.jpgBBC News, Laayoune
A human rights campaigner from the disputed territory of Western Sahara says he was beaten by Moroccan police after giving an interview to the BBC.
Rachid Sghir and his colleagues were aware of the risks they ran by being interviewed for our TV documentary series Tropic of Cancer.

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Roger Holdsworth and Deb Welch with Zazi (NubeNegra Records) and Womadelaide performer Mariem Hassan

“They both live around Barcelona and obviously know each other. But it was fascinating to see Mariem Hassan, ‘the voice of the Sahara’, in traditional Saharauis dress, pumping the air to the flamenco scratch and rap of Ojos de Brujo. She cheered and ululated as Ojos did their high energy set, than wandered into our Radio Adelaide broadcast tent backstage for a chat. View live performance >>
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WOMADelaide festival: MARIAM HASSAN PERFORMS IN AUSTRALIA

dsc01346red.JPGThe four day WOMADelaide festival of international music took place between Friday 5 and Monday 8 March 2010 Adelaide (Australia) with the attendance of over 80.000 music and dance fans.
One of the highlights this year was the Saharawi artist and singer Mariam Hassan.
Mariam and her group performed every day during the festival. They sang Saharawi traditional and national songs and performed Saharawi dances.Saharawi supporters in Australia were always present to raise the Saharawi flag and support the group during all their acts.
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