In a communiqué released Thursday, London-based NGO Amnesty International urged the Moroccan authorities to «impartially and effectively» investigate the «use of excessive force by the security forces against Sahrawi protesters in Laayoune», who took to the streets to celebrate the victory of Algeria's national football team, which won the Africa Cup of Nations on July 19. Based on verified video footage and witness testimony, the organization indicated that security forces in Laayoune reportedly «threw rocks to disperse the crowds of demonstrators and sparked clashes». «There is clear evidence to suggest that the Moroccan security forces' initial response to the Sahrawi protests, which began peacefully, was excessive, and provoked violent clashes which could and should have been avoided», Deputy Middle East and North Africa Director at Amnesty International Magdalena Mughrabi stated. «The authorities must impartially and effectively investigate the attacks on protesters and bring to justice anyone suspected to be responsible in fair trials», she further argued. The organization referred in its communiqué to the death of Sahrawi woman Sabah Njourni. According to eyewitnesses who spoke to Amnesty International, the 24-year-old woman died «after she was mowed down by two Moroccan auxiliary force cars». While acknowledging that the investigation the «Moroccan authorities have announced into her (Sabah) death is thorough, impartial and effective and that the findings are made public», Mughrabi from Amnesty stressed that «the killing of Njourni appears to be the direct result of the police's lack of restraint». «Any members of the security forces found to be responsible for her death must be brought to justice», Mughrabi concluded.
