"Stop exploiting a speech that, ethically, should be above all exploitations because they human rights not small political interests and more or less dubious and suspicious  ambitions," said Herzenni to a separatist who asked him on human rights in the southern provinces, at a panel organized at the Palais des Nations.

"Obviously, this lady does not speak for herself but for an entire group, and, to name it, she speaks for a group called Polisario. She wanted to embarrass me, but in fact she pleased me a lot of because notwithstanding the fact that this panel is not meant for enforced disappearances, I tell her that when people elsewhere argue that Morocco occupies the Sahara, they reveal without being aware that they are not convinced," said CCDH President.

"If Morocco was an occupying country, should it be asked to respect human rights. Did we, when we were fighting against France, ask it to respect human rights, did we ask it to leave," Herzenni told the separatist, adding that "the fact that she and her colleagues are now using the speech of human rights, proves that they do not believe in what they are trying to tell outside when they say that Morocco is a country occupying a foreign territory. "

Herzenni reminded her that he joined the faculty at the same time as the principal founder of the Polisario, Mostafa El Ouali. "We were in the same movement" which was not working to divide Morocco, but to make it democratic state. And it is this same message that I’m now sending to my friends in Tindouf and elsewhere. If indeed they still have a little autonomy and ability to act independently, they should join the battle of Moroccans for Democracy and Human Rights ", added CCDH President.

Herzenni hosted a panel organized by the Consultative Council, in partnership with the High Commissioner for Human, on "community reparation in the context of transitional justice" in the margins of the 13th session of the Human Rights Council.

Source: MAP
- News on Western Sahara issue/ Corcas -