Dear Friends of Ali Aarrass,
On 28 August, the UN Human Rights Committee condemned Spain for its extradition of Ali Aarrass to torture in Morocco in December 2010, in breach of the Committee’s demand for a stay. The Committee found as a fact that Ali was tortured in Morocco, and that before extraditing him the Spanish authorities did not properly assess the risk of torture. Spain’s treatment of Ali violated Article 7 of the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights, which bans exposure to torture or inhuman or degrading treatment, and Spain is liable not only to pay compensation to Ali but to do everything in its power to assist him now. The Committee gave Spain six months to comply with its decision.
The Committee exists to enforce States’ obligations under the ICCPR, whose guarantees mirror those of the European Convention on Human Rights but apply to signatory states worldwide.
In May, Ali won a ruling against Morocco from the UN Committee Against Torture
Within a fortnight, on 9 September, the Belgian Court of Appeal upheld the High Court’s February ruling that the Belgian authorities are under a duty to provide Ali with consular assistance.
Ali and his lawyers have secured official condemnation of all three states involved in his predicament: Spain, which recklessly extradited him; Morocco, which tortured, tried and sentenced him, and Belgium, which has refused to lift a finger to help him. These denunciations and orders must not be allowed to be in vain.
Ali must be freed!
Frances Webber
