Spanish Court to Rule on Torture Allegations Against Polisario Leader Brahim Ghali

The witness in question, proposed by Breica’s defense, was unable to respond to the judge’s summons on June 29 and July 27 last, having failed to obtain a visa to leave Mali. Noting his inability to testify, Judge Pedraz decided to close the case, reports Europa Press. In his complaint, the activist Fadel Breica accuses Brahim Ghali of crimes of kidnapping, torture and against humanity that would have been committed in 2019 in the Tindouf camps. During his appearance in June, Breica certified that he had been tortured for six months on Brahim Ghali’s orders.

To read: Witness Testifies: Polisario Leader Ordered Torture in Tindouf Camps

In addition to Breica, the Sahrawi Association for the Defense of Human Rights (ASADEDH) also filed a complaint against Ghali and 27 other people for the mistreatment suffered by prisoners of war and Sahrawi citizens, particularly those of Spanish origin in the 1970s-1990s. Judge Pedraz considered that the facts are time-barred because the 1973 Criminal Code sets the criminal liability at 20 years and also noted a "manifest insufficiency" of evidence indicating that Ghali participated in the alleged torture. ASADEDH appealed the judge’s decision, insisting that Ghali is guilty of an "imprescriptible" crime of genocide.

During his interrogation before Pedraz on June 1, Ghali denied the facts he is accused of. His defense argued that as Minister of Defense of the SADR, he was "exclusively" devoted to the war against Morocco, denouncing the "political" nature of the complaints.

To read: Former Spanish Foreign Minister Faces Scrutiny Over Polisario Leader’s Entry

Brahim Ghali arrived in Spain on April 18 in a medicalized plane from Algeria. He was then transferred from the Saragossa air base to a hospital in Logroño where he was admitted under a false identity. The judge of the Saragossa court, Rafael Lasala, is currently investigating to find out who is responsible for Ghali’s entry and exit in Spain. In this context, the judge has already summoned the former chief of staff of González Laya, Camilo Villarino. The latter assured, during his appearance, that the former Minister of Foreign Affairs was aware of Ghali’s arrival. Hence his summons by Judge Lasala.