Ali-Salem Tamek

Ali-Salem Tamek, a prominent human rights defender and founding member of the Western Sahara branch of the Forum for Truth and Justice, an organization that campaigns for the rights of victims and families of victims of torture, “disappearances” and other human rights violations, is in Dublin until 21 December, to highlight the human rights and political situation in Western Sahara.

Since his arrival he has met with officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and is scheduled to meet public representatives, Simon Coveney, TD and MEP, Michael D. Higgins, Labour TD and Proinsias De Rossa, Labour MEP. He will also attend a session of the human rights committee of Joint Oireachats Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Ali-Salem Tamek has been instrumental in collecting and disseminating information about human rights violations committed by Moroccan forces. He has faced routine harassment and persecution in his attempt to monitor and denounce abuses by Moroccan authorities.

He has been jailed five times and has staged numerous hunger strikes whilst in prison (a total of 22 hunger). He has been subjected to torture and ill treatment while in prison including. In 2003, he was sentenced to prison for "undermining the internal security of the state". In 2003 he came close to death before being released in a royal pardon. His health remains poor and will receive medical treatment whilst in Ireland. In addition, there has been a number of politically motivated harassment and threats to his life and family.