Protests at Mohamed VI’s visit to Washington

Members of the Polisario Front and a number of supporters of the Western Sahara issue protested next to the White House in Washington against Morocco’s King Mohamed VI who is visiting the United States.

US newspaper Washington Times said if Morocco is a friend country, this friendship relation must not take the US away from its values and push it to keep silent over human rights violations.

It added that US President Barrack Obama who announced his support to democracy and human rights on many occasions has now a real opportunity to show that he believes in what he says.

Speaking about the Moroccan king’s visit to Washington, the newspaper said he should be ready to answer questions about his contradictory policy regarding the US values and interests.

It believes that the continuing occupation of Western Sahar and ill treatment of Sahrawi people are very important problems due to their seriousness.

It also said President Obama should clearly tell the Moroccan king that he accepts the UN resolutions about the future of Western Sahara through a referendum.

It also said Obama must ask the Moroccan king to support the UN process and fix a deadline to end the occupation of Western Sahara and release all the political prisoners.

International amnesty organization called on US President to put pressure on the Moroccan king to ban the laws which oblige women and girls to marry the men who raped them. It also wants Morocco to stop jailing teenagers who kiss each others in public places.