Equipe Media.- Hmetou El Kaouri*, journalist of Smara News, in the occupied territories of Western Sahara.
On 7 September 2022, Hmetou El Kaouri went to the police station of El Aayun to renew his identity card, at which time he was arrested and transferred to Smara. A warrant for his arrest was issued in 2018.
El Kaouri was involved in the case of Mohamed Salem Mayara, journalist, and Mohamed Aljomayaai, cameraman.
All three were charged with disrupting traffic, attacking public property, armed assembly and attempted murder.
The latter charge of attempted murder was removed from Mayara and Aljomayaai’s case, and on 31 March 2018 they were sentenced to 6 months in prison and 18 months suspended. They served the sentence and were released.
However, for El Kaouri, the charge of attempted murder was maintained and added to the other charges.
On 23 November 2022 he was sentenced to 10 years in prison in El Aaiun.
On 18 January 2023, he was sentenced at second instance to 20 years in prison.
The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights in Smara issued a communiqué in which they criticised the sentence and denounced the colonial policy without respect for international charters and laws. They also denounce the systematic repression against Sahrawis, whether they are activists of the Sahrawi cause, human rights activists or journalists.
They add that the charges have been fabricated, and the sentence, unjust and harsh, corresponds to mock trials.
Hmetou El Kaouri is in the prison of El Aaiun.
*Mahmoud Mohamed Salem El Kaouri, Sahrawi name.
Mahmoud El Kaouri, name in his Moroccan passport.
Hmetou El Kaouri, name by which he is known to all
