Johannesburg (South Africa), 20/11/2006 (SPS) Saharawi human rights activist and ex-political prisoner, Ali Salem Tamek arrived on Sunday to Johannesburg, within the framework of a turn to raise the awareness of the international public opinion on the gross human rights violations perpetrated by Morocco against the Saharawi civilians in the occupied territories of the Western Sahara, concordant sources reported.

Mr. Ali Salem was received at the airport 'Oliver Tambo' by officials of the South African Foreign Affairs and members of the Saharawi members of the Pan African Parliament.

In this first stage of his visit to South Africa, which will last for two weeks, the Saharawi human rights activist was received on Monday by the President of the Pan African Parliament as well as the Director of the South African Committee for Human Rights, the same sources added.

30 years old, father to a daughter, Mr. Tamek lives in the occupied capital of the Western Sahara, El Aaiun. His activism cost him to be detained and imprisoned many times, deported from his hometown, torture, intimidations and he was lately forbidden from Western Sahara by the Moroccan forces of occupation, it should be recalled. (SPS)

020/090/000/TRD 201630 Nov 06 SPS

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