Dublin — "The Government will continue to raise concerns about human rights abuses in Western Sahara, said on Wednesday the Ireland Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore.

"in particular reports of the arbitrary arrest, detention and mistreatment of human rights defenders, with Morocco in our ongoing bilateral dialogue." he added.

The minister was answering question in the parliament from Sandra McLellan; about the Moroccan Military court's decision against 24 Saharawi political prisoners known as Gdeim Izik group.

"I share the concern regarding this case and my officials will continue to closely monitor the situation and the process regarding the appeal of the sentences." he stated.

"The accused have already spent two years in pre-trial detention prison and there have been allegations of torture during their imprisonment." he said adding that "concerns have also been expressed regarding the fact that the defendants have been tried in a military rather than a civilian court."

"The UN Committee against Torture and the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture has sought to investigate and report on the situation." the Minister concluded.

SPS