Jailed Moroccan unionist reasserts his innocence

Jailed Moroccan unionist reasserts his innocence

http://www.itfglobal.org/news-online/index.cfm/newsdetail/7797

30 August 2012

Said Elhairech, the jailed Moroccan dockers’ unionist, reaffirmed his innocence at a bail hearing before an investigating judge yesterday.

Speaking at the five-hour hearing in Rabat, Morocco, he declared that he was innocent of the charges of “sabotage and endangering national security”, which have been levied against him. Elhairech, general secretary of the ITF-affiliated Moroccan Ports Union, part of the Union des Syndicats UMT des Transports and chair of the ITF Arab World regional committee, was arrested on 16 June and subsequently charged.

The ITF, which is backing Elhairech, believes that he has been wrongly charged following his work on behalf of ships’ crews stranded when the Comarit-Comanav ferry company ceased to operate.

Elhairech also made an initial application for bail; a second bail request was scheduled for 30 August.

For more information, visit: http://www.itfglobal.org/solidarity/Said-Elhairech.cfm