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Polisario leader Brahim Ghali will give a virtual statement regarding the multiple legal charges against him, including genocide, torture, and rape.
Spanish news outlet El Pais quoted its sources, saying that the Head of the Central Court allowed Ghali to give his statement virtually “if he was not in a position that let him travel to Madrid.”
El Pais said the court scheduled June 1 as the appointment when Ghali should give his statement on all legal charges against him.
Last week, Spanish National Court Judge Santiago Pedraz announced his decision to reopen the case against Ghali, who is currently receiving medical care in Spain.
Ghali entered Spain early in April after he tested positive for COVID-19. Spain arranged his trip secretly with Algerian authorities. The European country allowed Ghali to enter its territories using a fake identity and passport under the name Mohamed Ben Battouch, even though he is facing several serious charges.
The Spanish decision angered Morocco, who deplored the Spanish attitude and said that the move was against the spirit of partnership between Rabat and Madrid.
The North African country, whose intelligence detected Ghali’s presence in a Spanish hospital, warned that tension could worsen and might even lead to rupture of ties between Morocco and Spain if Madrid allows the Polisario leader to leave its territories the same way he entered.
It remains to be seen whether the Polisario leader will appear before the judge.
El Pais said that the Spanish judge repeatedly refused to “take precautionary measures against the Polisario leader, including the withdrawal of his passport.”
The Spanish news outlet said that the judge called on Ghali to appoint a lawyer, summoning him to give his statement at 10:30 a.m. on June 1.
The judge’s recent action comes amid the refusal of the Polisario leader to give his statement on the charges against him.
Earlier this week, Polisario member Salem Lebsir visited Ghali in the hospital.
During his visit, Lebsir gave an interview to Spanish news outlet OKDIARIO, where he said that Ghali is planning to leave Spain in the next few days after he is recovered.
Lebsir added that Ghali will not give a statement regarding the legal charges against him.
The Polisario member also claimed that the accusations against Ghali are “lies,” seeking to “tarnish” his reputation.
Multiple people filed complaints against Ghali, renewing their legal actions after the news erupted about his presence in Spain.
One of the complainants is Fadel Mehdi Braika, a Sahrawi who filed charges against Ghali for the torture he suffered in the Polisario camps in Tindouf, Algeria.
