Freedom of speech, right to demonstrate, freedom of movement …
Human rights, but not for El Mouthena. He was arrested and imprisoned on his way to a networking event.
NO CRIMINALISATION OF REFUGEES AND MIGRANTS
NO BORDERS
FREEDOM FOR ALL REFUGEES
El Mouthena is one of the motors behind the self-organised refugee protests in the Netherlands and beyond. Since September 2012 he is active for the steadily growing group of refugees without papers in Amsterdam that wants to show their situation to the public under the name of WE ARE HERE.
Whether it was in the ice-cold tent camp or in one of the buildings that were squatted for the group, he was always the one mobilizing and motivating for actions. At his entry in the Netherlands he spoke many languages, but no English. After some months, however, he managed to give his speeches in English. It is not the first time El Mouthena is in prison. After the eviction of the tent camp he was kept six weeks in detention in Kamp Zeist, the Netherlands.
Many people in Europe know El Mouthena. As an active person, always ready to stimulate people when they get tired or frustrated. As a charming young man, with constant jokes and a contagious smile. And above all as someone fighting tirelessly for human rights.
Let’s continue Mouthena’s fight together!
El Mouthena is a political prisoner in Germany, condemned because of going to a meeting. He had an explanation of the reason for his trip, signed by a lawyer, that he showed when he was arrested. Political fight is everybody’s right! It was the purpose of the meeting in Rome and the projects discussed there and Mouthena’s attendance to break the isolation of illegalized people/refugees, to be able to work and network internationally : Freedom of movement !
His idea
After fighting for more than a year in the Netherlands for basic human rights for refugees, El Mouthena thought that the focus on the issue should be shifted to a European level rather than looking at the problem as a Dutch one. He initiated demonstrations with the slogan: Give us permission to stay or remove our fingerprint (Dublin II). Parallel he started to network with refugees and activists in other European countries and discussed ideas for international actions.
His trip
El Mouthena decided to participate in an international networking meeting in Rome. The aim was to gather with refugees and supporters around them to exchange contacts and ideas around: The right for asylum, No to the Dublin cage, and Freedom of movement.
His arrest
El Mouthena was on his way to Rome, when they got checked at a petrol station. Everyone in the group was asked for ID. El Mouthena was the only one that got arrested and sent to prison.
His situation
El Mouthena is currently detained in Justizvollzugsanstalt München. Within one day after his arrest he was brought to court. There it was decided that he is accused of illegal entry and therefore the case falls under criminal law. He will probably stay under arrest until his trial in Munich. This could take up to 2 months.
His treatment in Bavaria (German state)
Mouthena was refused access to a translator in the whole process, and also initially to have any contact with his lawyer. A German activist tells: ‘The arrest was clearly a case of racial profiling; there was no reason to control us particularly, for drugs and arms, which was what they pretended. The charges are incredibly severe: instead of being considered as an administrative infraction and sent back to the Netherlands, or charged as asylum seeker in Germany with a 40€ fine, he is charged with a crime and detained in isolation.‘ After his arrest, Mouthena asked for asylum which has until now not been taken into process. This denies his right of seeking asylum in Germany.
Write him
Mouthena would love to get in touch with the outside world and be updated about actions and initiatives. You can write him in French, Arabic, Spanish or English. Be aware that German authorities will read your post.
Justizvollzugsanhalt München
El Mouthena El Marakchi, Geburtsdatum: 7-1-1989
Postfach 90 06 55
81506 München
Germany
Take action
El Mouthena is one of the many refugees without papers that are imprisoned currently in Europe. El Mouthena has raised his voice against this imprisonment loudly and many times. Let us raise our voice against his imprisonment.
We call upon all networks, organizations or individuals to organize a protest at their local German embassy or consulate on Wednesday 27th of November, 2013
Contact e-mail address support group: elmouthena@xs4all.nl
Facebook: www.facebook.com/WijZijnHier