Aminatu Haidar (born July 24, 1966) is an activist who advocates for the independence of Western Sahara . For her non-violent protests, she became known as the “Sahara Gandhi ” and the “Sahara Passionarium ” [2] [3] [4] . She was arrested several times, in 1987-1991 and 2005-2006 she was in prison. Aminatou Haidar’s hunger strike in 2009 attracted much media attention around the world.
| Aminatu Haidar | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | |
| Place of Birth | |
| A country | |
| Occupation | , |
| Awards and prizes | [d] ( 2009 ) [d] ( 2008 ) [d] ( 2007 ) [d] ( 2011 ) |
Biography
Aminatu Haidar was born in Akka . But she spent her childhood in the city of El Aaiun , a significant part of the population of which is Saharavi , where she lived most of her life [5] [6] [7] . Haidar is not a member of the Polisario front, but believes that this organization is the only representative of the Saharavi people [8] .
In 1987, Aminatu Haidar took part in non-violent protests against the Moroccan government, which runs the region. After that, she, like many other activists, was arrested and was detained in prison until 1991 without charge. According to the representative of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Center, Kerry Kennedy, Khaidar, while in prison, lacked food and sleep , was exposed to electric shock and beatings, as well as “worse” [9] .
The Moroccan authorities did not comment on the arrest of Aminatu Haidar. Amnesty International stated that it was arrested for peacefully speaking in support of the self-determination of Western Sahara. [7]
On June 17, 2005, Aminatu Haidar was attacked by police when she was heading for a demonstration in support of the independence of Western Sahara. After this incident, Khaidar put 12 stitches on her head, then she was arrested by the police and charged with “participating in violent acts and incitement”, as well as “belonging to an illegal organization”. After that, Aminatu Khaidar was sent to a secret prison in El Aayun [10] . From August 8 to September 29, Khaidar went on a hunger strike, demanding an investigation into the torture of the arrested activists, as well as improving conditions [11] .
On December 14, Aminatu Khaidar was sentenced to 7 months in prison. According to Amnesty International, “a court ... may be considered unfair. His organization has consistently strengthened the belief that seven human rights defenders can be considered prisoners of conscience. ” [11] . On October 27, 2005, the European Parliament issued a resolution condemning the sentence imposed by Haydar and called for the release of her, Ali Salem Tamek, as well as 37 other political prisoners. [12]
On January 17, 2006, Aminatu Khaidar was released from prison due to the expiration of her sentence [10] . After her release, she stated that “the joy [of being released from prison] could not be complete was the release of all Saharan political prisoners without the release of all the territories of the motherland, which is still under the occupation of the oppressor” [9] .
On November 13, 2009, Aminatu Khaidar was detained by the Moroccan authorities at El Aaiun Airport when she was returning from a trip to Lanzarote , because Khaidar refused to indicate Morocco under “citizenship” at the entrance [13] . Authorities banned her from returning, seized her passport and sent her back to the Canary Islands [14] . Two Spanish journalists accompanying her were also detained for several hours [15] . Moroccan authorities said that they consider Haidar’s actions to be high treason and will not allow her to return until she apologizes. [13] Later, the Spanish newspaper "El País" published documents according to which the Moroccan government had booked for Haidar seats on three planes before her arrival, which indicates that she intended to be sent in advance [16] .
Personal life
Divorced, two children, Hayat and Mohammed [7] [17] .
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 Akyeampong E. K. , Gates H. L. Dictionary on African Biography, افریقی سوانحی لغت - New York City : OUP , 2012 .-- ISBN 978-0-19-538207-5
- ↑ 'Sahrawi Gandhi' awarded New York peace prize , Sydney Morning Herald (October 22, 2009). Date of treatment November 26, 2011.
- ↑ Xan Rice . Western Sahara's 'Gandhi' begins hunger strike , Mail & Guardian (November 20, 2009). Date of treatment November 26, 2011.
- ↑ Pierre Ausseill . Aminatou Haidar, la "pasionaria" inflexible du Sahara occidental (French) , Google News (Agence France-Presse) (11-12-2009). Date of treatment November 7, 2012.
- ↑ Tomás Bárbulo . La voluntad y la fuerza (Spanish) , El País (13 December 2009). Date of appeal October 16, 2012.
- ↑ Spanish Police Report . Saharalibre.es. Date of treatment August 10, 2012.
- ↑ 1 2 3 Sahrawi human rights defenders under attack . Amnesty International (November 24, 2005). Date of treatment November 12, 2011.
- ↑ Eduardo Soto Trillo, Viaje al abandono - Por qué no dejan al Sáhara ser libre, Aguilar, 2011, page 369. ISBN 9788403101487
- ↑ 1 2 Kerry Kennedy. Remarks by Kerry Kennedy: 2008 RFK Human Rights Award Ceremony . Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights (2008). Date of treatment August 10, 2012. Archived May 13, 2015.
- ↑ 1 2 La activista Aminetu Haidar sale de prisión tras cumplir condena y es recibida por cientos de saharauis (Spanish) , El Mundo (17 January 2006). Date of treatment November 12, 2011.
- ↑ 1 2 Morocco / Western Sahara: Human rights defenders jailed after questionable trial . Amnesty International (December 15, 2005). Date of treatment August 10, 2012.
- ↑ European Parliament resolution on human rights in Western Sahara . European Parliament (October 27, 2005). Date of treatment November 12, 2011.
- ↑ 1 2 Morocco demands apology from hunger strike activist . BBC News (December 2, 2009). Date of treatment August 10, 2012.
- ↑ Saharan activist 'facing court' . BBC News (November 17, 2009). Date of treatment August 10, 2012.
- ↑ Rabat detiene a la activista saharaui más célebre (Spanish) , El País (November 14, 2009). Date of treatment November 13, 2011.
- ↑ Marruecos urdió la expulsión de Haidar del Sáhara (Spanish) , El País (November 26, 2009). Date of treatment November 13, 2011.
- ↑ Error in footnotes ? : Invalid
<ref>; no text forDNfootnotes