ITF welcomes Moroccan fair trial pledge

News Release International Transport Federation (ITF) July 6, 2012

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The ITF has welcomed a promise by
Morocco’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Princess Lalla Joumala, that
detained trade unionists Said
Elhairech and Mohamed Chamchati will receive a fair and just
hearing in the court proceedings which began in Rabat on Monday.
 
In a letter to ITF (International
Transport Workers’ Federation) general secretary David Cockroft the ambassador
said: “All those standing accused in the COMANAV case have been guaranteed the
full enjoyment of their rights, including the right to legal counsel in order to
ensure their defence … I share your confidence that the judiciary will establish
the truth behind this matters.”
 
The ITF is certain that the wide
ranging and dramatic accusations of sabotage and endangering national security
against the men have no basis in fact, and is hopeful that the court will
dismiss the case against them. General secretary David Cockroft will be
conveying this belief in a meeting with the chargé d'affaires of
the Moroccan Embassy in London this Friday morning.
 
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