{{Short description|Moroccan foreign volunteer (born 2000)}} {{pp-extended|small=yes}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}} {{Infobox military person | image = Brahim Saadoune being interrogated (cropped).png | caption = Saâdoune being interrogated by the Investigative Committee of Russia in 2022 | name = Brahim Saâdoune<br />{{lang|ar|إبراهيم سعدون}} | birth_date = {{Birth year and age|2000}} | birth_place = Meknes, Morocco | nickname = | allegiance = {{flag|Ukraine}} | branch = | service_years = 2021–2022 (Ukraine) | unit = {{flagicon image|Нарукавний знак 36 ОБрМП.png|border=|size=20px}} 36th Separate Marine Brigade<ref name="thepage">{{Cite web |first=Olexandra |last=Zakharova |title="DPR" announces execution of three foreigners — Mariupol defenders: What to happen to Azov |url=https://en.thepage.ua/news/dnr-sentences-to-death-mariupol-defenders |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=The Page |date=June 9, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> | battles = {{tree list}} * Russo-Ukrainian War ** War in Donbas ** Russian invasion of Ukraine *** Siege of Mariupol *** Battle of Volnovakha{{Surrendered}} {{tree list/end}} }}
'''Brahim Saâdoune''' ({{langx|ar|إبراهيم سعدون|Ibrāhīm Saʻdūn}}; born 2000){{efn|{{langx|ber|ⴱⵕⴰⵀⵉⵎ ⵙⵄⴷⵓⵏ|Bṛahim Sɛdun}}<br>{{langx|uk|Брахім Саадун|Brakhim Saadun}}<br>{{langx|ru|Брагим Саадун|Bragim Saadun}}}} is a Moroccan student who joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces as a fighter-volunteer.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Kataja |first=Marika |date=2022-07-01 |title=Sotavangiksi jäänyttä pikkuveljeä uhkaa kuolemantuomio Itä-Ukrainassa – "Hänet on jätetty yksin" |url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12386142 |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=Yle Uutiset |language=fi}}</ref> Saâdoune was captured during the Battle of Volnovakha and sentenced to death by the Supreme Court of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) in what has been described as a "show trial".<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=HILL-CAWTHORNE |first=LAWRENCE |date=2022-06-14 |title=Ukraine: why the 'show trial' of British POWs violates Geneva Conventions |url=https://www.justiceinfo.net/en/102044-ukraine-why-show-trial-british-pows-violates-geneva-conventions.html |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=THE CONVERSATION FRANCE |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="pinner">{{Cite news |last1=Roth |first1=Andrew |last2=Sauer |first2=Pjotr |date=2022-06-11 |title=Moroccan sentenced to death is a victim of Russian 'games', friends say |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/12/moroccan-sentenced-to-death-is-a-victim-of-russian-games-friends-say}}</ref>
On September 21, 2022, Saâdoune was released in a prisoner exchange deal mediated by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 September 2022 |title=MBS Obtient de Poutine la libération du marocain Saâdoun |url=https://ledesk.ma/encontinu/mbs-obtient-de-poutine-la-liberation-du-marocain-saadoun/ |website=Le Desk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Machloukh |first=Anass |title=Brahim Saadoune libéré grâce à l'entremise de l'Arabie saoudite |url=https://www.lopinion.ma/Brahim-Saadoune-libere-grace-a-l-entremise-de-l-Arabie-saoudite_a31647.html |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=L'Opinion |language=fr}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Reeves |first=Jay |title=Russian separatists release 10, including 2 US veterans |language=en-US |newspaper=The Washington Post |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/family-2-american-veterans-captured-in-ukraine-released/2022/09/21/b06710d4-39da-11ed-b8af-0a04e5dc3db6_story.html |access-date=2022-09-23 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
== Early life and education == Brahim Saâdoune was born in Meknes, Morocco.<ref>{{Citation |last=Lukyanov |first=Alexander |title=Mercenary sentenced to death in the DPR |date=2022-06-13 |url=https://dzen.ru/video/watch/62aa29ef265c82555e14e8a3 |language=en |access-date=2022-09-23}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Kozlowski |first=Nina |title=Maroc : qui est Brahim Saadoun, le combattant marocain condamné à mort en Ukraine ? |url=https://www.jeuneafrique.com/1352963/politique/maroc-qui-est-brahim-saadoun-le-combattant-marocain-condamne-a-mort-en-ukraine/ |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=Jeune Afrique |date=June 10, 2022 |language=fr-FR}}</ref> His father, Tahar, was a veteran of the Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie from Safi.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Affaire Brahim Saâdoun : Bons baisers de Donetsk |url=https://www.maroc-hebdo.press.ma/affaire-brahim-saadoun-bons-baisers-donetsk |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=Maroc-Hebdo |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Affaire Brahim Saâdoun : Marocain il est, marocain il reste! |url=https://www.maroc-hebdo.press.ma/brahim-saadoun-marocain |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=Maroc-Hebdo |language=fr}}</ref> Tahar had served as head of investigations in Agadir, where Brahim finished primary school before moving to Casablanca.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rachidi |first=Khalil |title=Nouvelles révélations sur l'étudiant marocain, Brahim Saadoun, arrêté par l'armée russe |url=https://fr.le360.ma/societe/nouvelles-revelations-sur-letudiant-marocain-brahim-saadoun-arrete-par-larmee-russe-261642 |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=Le360}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-10 |title=حقائق مغيبة عن الطالب المعتقل بروسيا {{!}} جريدة الصباح |url=https://assabah.ma/640461.html |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=Assabah |language=ar}}</ref> He obtained his scientific Baccalaureate in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tahar Saadoun, père de Brahim Saâdoun, se confie à Maroc Hebdo |url=https://www.maroc-hebdo.press.ma/tahar-saadoun-brahim-maroc-hebdo |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=Maroc-Hebdo |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Libération de Brahim Saâdoun : La famille du jeune remercie le Roi Mohammed VI et tous ceux qui l'ont soutenu |url=https://www.maroc-hebdo.press.ma/liberation-brahim-saadoun-famille-jeune-remercie-roi-mohammed-vi |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=Maroc-Hebdo |language=fr}}</ref>
Saâdoune moved to Ukraine in 2019 and studied Russian at the Poltava University of Economics and Trade.<ref name=":2" /> He had decided to study in Ukraine due to the quality of education and cost.<ref name="pinner" />
He later studied aeronautical engineering at the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute's Institute of Aerospace Technologies.<ref name="vow2">{{Cite web |last=Aamari |first=Oussama |date=2022-06-11 |title=Moroccan Man Who Fought With Ukraine Sentenced to Death in Donetsk |url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2022/06/349595/moroccan-man-who-fought-with-ukraine-sentenced-to-death-in-donetsk |website=Morocco World News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=El Grari |first=Hind |title=Affaire Saâdoun: Pouchiline affirme que « tout est prêt » pour l'exécution |url=https://ledesk.ma/encontinu/affaire-saadoun-pouchiline-affirme-que-tout-est-pret-pour-lexecution/ |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=Le Desk |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> Saâdoune was allegedly given Ukrainian nationality in 2020 after undergoing a year of military training as a requirement to access aerospace technology.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Eljechtimi |first=Ahmed |date=2022-06-13 |title=Moroccan sentenced to death in Donetsk has Ukrainian nationality and isn't a mercenary, father says |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/moroccan-sentenced-death-donetsk-has-ukrainian-nationality-not-mercenary-father-2022-06-13/ |access-date=2022-09-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=U.K. Condemns Death Sentence Handed To Foreign Fighters By Separatist Court In Ukraine |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-separatists-death-sentence-foreign-fighters/31891033.html |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |language=en}}</ref>
At the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Morocco launched a major repatriation campaign, it was initially planned for Saâdoune to have been repatriated to Morocco through Poland.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2022-06-12 |title=Ce que l'on sait de l'affaire Brahim Saadoun, le jeune marocain condamné à mort au Donbass |url=https://medias24.com/2022/06/12/ce-que-lon-sait-de-laffaire-brahim-saadoun/ |access-date=2022-06-12 |website=Médias24 |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref name="friend" />
== Military career == In November 2021, Saâdoune signed a three-year contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Гуляева |first=Шура |title="Он взял с собой на службу детский рюкзак-собачку — талисман, который всегда рядом" |url=https://doxajournal.ru/brahim-saadoun |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=Журнал DOXA |language=ru}}</ref> He had joined the army to "fight injustice", as well as to gain military experience.<ref name="svo2">{{Cite news |last=Штекель |first=Михайло |title=Марокканця і британців, які пішли до ЗСУ, хочуть стратити у Донецьку |url=https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/marokko-azovstal-saadun-mariupol/31891113.html |access-date=2022-06-20 |website=Радіо Свобода |date=June 10, 2022 |language=uk}}</ref><ref name="pinner" /> Shaun Pinner had helped Saâdoune join the armed forces over Facebook.<ref name="pinner" />
In the months before the invasion, Saâdoune was deployed to Mariupol, serving in the 36th Separate Marine Brigade.<ref name=":2" /> In the army, he served as a driver and a translator, as he knew Russian, Ukrainian, English, French, Arabic, and Tamazight.<ref name="o2" /><ref name="friend">{{Cite web |last=Balduk |first=Chiem |date=2022-06-11 |title=Student Brahim wilde Oekraïne beschermen, maar krijgt nu de doodstraf |url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2432053-student-brahim-wilde-oekraine-beschermen-maar-krijgt-nu-de-doodstraf |publisher=Nederlandse Omroep Stichting |language=nl}}</ref><ref name=":3" />
After the invasion started, he fought alongside Ukrainian forces in the besieged city of Mariupol.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beraud |first=Benjamin |date=2022-06-21 |title=Guerre en Ukraine : qui est Brahim Saadoun, ce jeune marocain condamné à mort par les sépartistes pro-russes ? |url=https://information.tv5monde.com/afrique/guerre-en-ukraine-qui-est-brahim-saadoun-ce-jeune-marocain-condamne-mort-par-les-separtistes |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=TV5MONDE |language=fr}}</ref>
== Capture and trial ==
Saâdoune surrendered and was later captured by Russian forces on March 12, 2022, during the Battle of Volnovakha.<ref name="svo2" /><ref name="rfer">{{Cite web |date=2022-06-11 |title=U.K. Condemns Death Sentence Handed To Foreign Fighters By Separatist Court In Ukraine |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-separatists-death-sentence-foreign-fighters/31891033.html |publisher=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty}}</ref> An interview with Saâdoune was broadcast on Channel One Russia, where he was portrayed as a mercenary.<ref name="thepage" /> During the interview, he claimed that he was very scared during his capture.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aamari |first=Oussama |title=Moroccan Who Fought With Ukraine to Face Trial in Donetsk |url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2022/06/349528/moroccan-who-fought-with-ukraine-to-face-trial-in-donetsk |access-date=2022-06-11 |website=Morocco World News |language=en}}</ref>
After he was captured, he was taken to Donetsk and was tried along with two British fighters, Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner.<ref name="pinner" /> Saâdoune and Pinner plead not guilty to "mercenary" charges, but admitted involvement in fighting "intending to overturn constitutional order".<ref name="a" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=EL-BARAKAH |first=TARIK |date=2022-06-27 |title='I want my son back': Moroccan's father pleads with Putin |url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-politics-executions-50f449882abf772d49d599479287cb21 |access-date=2022-09-24 |website=The Associated Press |language=en}}</ref>
The Supreme Court of the Donetsk People's Republic sentenced the trio to death for mercenarism, trying to overturn constitutional order, and undergoing training to carry out terrorist activities.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Filiu |first=Jean-Pierre |date=2022-08-01 |title=War in Ukraine: The death sentence making Morocco uncomfortable |language=en |work=Le Monde |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2022/08/01/war-in-ukraine-the-death-sentence-making-morocco-uncomfortable_5992087_4.html |access-date=2022-09-23}}</ref> Their trial has been described as a "show trial".<ref name=":4" />
The day after his sentencing, Saâdoune told Russia Today that he "didn't know what was going to happen", and that he "was ready for anything".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Drissi |first=Ziad |title=Brahim Saadoun, condamné à la peine de mort : "J'étais prêt à tout" |url=https://telquel.ma/instant-t/2022/06/10/brahim-saadoun-condamne-a-la-peine-de-mort-jetais-pret-a-tout_1771260/?fbrefresh=1 |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=TelQuel |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Zainabi |first=Manal |title=Affaire Brahim Saadoun : soldat "Brian" ou mercenaire Brahim ? |url=https://telquel.ma/2022/06/17/affaire-brahim-saadoun-soldat-brian-ou-mercenaire-brahim_1771943?fbrefresh=8 |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=TelQuel |language=fr}}</ref> Saâdoune's lawyer, Yelena Vesnina, said that she did not expect the sentence, and called it "very harsh".<ref>{{Cite web |last=المبارك |first=محمد |title=خلاف مع والده/ شاب تائه/ يعتبر الأمر مجرد لعبة.. محامية إبراهيم سعدون تكشف معطيات مهمة عن موكلها |url=https://kifache.com/%d8%ae%d9%84%d8%a7%d9%81-%d9%85%d8%b9-%d9%88%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%af%d9%87-%d8%b4%d8%a7%d8%a8-%d8%aa%d8%a7%d8%a6%d9%87-%d9%8a%d8%b9%d8%aa%d8%a8%d8%b1-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a3%d9%85%d8%b1-%d9%85%d8%ac%d8%b1/?fbrefresh=1 |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=كيفاش |language=ar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Saih |first=Yasmine |date=2022-06-30 |title=Affaire Brahim Saadoun: Son avocate témoigne |url=https://fr.hespress.com/270159-affaire-brahim-saadoun-son-avocate-temoigne.html |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=Hespress |language=fr-FR}}</ref>
While there is a moratorium on the death penalty in Russia, it does not apply in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic.<ref name="not">{{Cite news |last=Vasilyeva |first=Nataliya |date=2022-06-09 |title=British fighters Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner sentenced to death by Russian-backed court |language=en-GB |publisher=The Daily Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/06/09/british-fighters-aiden-aslin-shaun-pinner-sentenced-death-russian/ |access-date=2022-06-09 |issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref name="a">{{Cite web |last=ZULOAGA |first=J.M. |date=2022-06-11 |title=Brahim Saadoun, el marroquí condenado a muerte por participar en la guerra de Ucrania |url=https://www.larazon.es/internacional/20220609/pnum7e3ltvhstijiy6t7dt5tne.html |website=La Razón |language=es}}</ref> A moratorium on the death penalty for "foreign mercenaries" was later adopted by the self-proclaimed parliament of the Donetsk Republic.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Saoudi |first=Badr |title=Moratoire sur la condamnation à mort du jeune marocain Brahim Saadoun en Ukraine |url=https://www.arabnews.fr/node/264636/monde-arabe |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=Arab News |date=July 11, 2022 |language=fr}}</ref>
== Reactions == On June 12, Denis Pushilin, head of the Donetsk People's Republic, said that no mercy should be shown to the fighters, saying that "they came to Ukraine to kill civilians for money, that's why I don't see any conditions for any mitigation or modification of the sentence".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kilner |first=James |date=2022-06-12 |title=No mercy for death row British fighters Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner, says rebel leader |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/06/12/no-mercy-should-shown-two-british-fighters-sentenced-death-says/ |access-date=2022-06-12 |issn=0307-1235}}</ref> Natalia Nikonorva, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the DPR chastised Britain and Morocco and said saying they "do not care at all about the fate of their citizens", reiterating that the two countries have not contacted them.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=بخساس |first=شيماء |title=بوريطة يرفض الحضور للبرلمان لتقديم توضيحات حول إبراهيم سعدون المحكوم بالإعدام |url=https://alyaoum24.com/1688711.html |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=اليوم 24 – أخبار اليوم على مدار الساعة |language=ar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Naanaa |first=Saloua |title=Autorités de Donetsk : "Le Maroc ne nous a pas contactés officiellement" au sujet de Brahim Saadoun |url=https://telquel.ma/instant-t/2022/07/14/autorites-de-donetsk-le-maroc-ne-nous-a-pas-contactes-officiellement-au-sujet-de-brahim-saadoun_1775901/?fbrefresh=2 |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=TelQuel |language=fr}}</ref> The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has said that the death sentence being carried out in their case could be considered as a war crime.<ref name="vow">{{Cite web |last=Gayle |first=Phil |date=2022-06-11 |title=Moroccan fighter sentenced to death is 'victim of this war,' friend says |url=https://www.dw.com/en/moroccan-fighter-sentenced-to-death-is-victim-of-this-war-friend-says/a-62096231 |publisher=Deutsche Welle}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kasraoui |first=Safaa |title=Kind and Open-Minded: Brahim Saadoun's Friends Call on UK To Save Him |url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2022/06/349668/kind-and-open-minded-brahim-saadouns-friends-call-on-uk-to-save-him |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=Morocco World News |language=en}}</ref>
Following the trial, Russian TV anchor and propagandist Vladimir Solovyov discussed different ways to kill the trio on his show, ''Evening with Vladimir Solovyov'' on Russia-1, with his panel debating whether to shoot, hang, dismember or release them for ransom.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Conversaţie suprarealistă la televiziunea rusă: "Îi spânzurăm sau îi tăiem?" |url=https://www.mediafax.ro/externe/conversatie-suprarealista-la-televiziunea-rusa-ii-spanzuram-sau-ii-taiem-20908262 |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=Mediafax.ro |language=ro}}</ref>
Ukrainian friends of Saâdoune called on the UK to help him get released.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-12 |title=UK government urged to aid Moroccan man facing death penalty in Ukraine war |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2022/06/12/UK-government-urged-to-aid-Moroccan-man-facing-death-penalty-in-Ukraine-war |access-date=2022-06-12 |website=Al Arabiya English |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-12 |title=UK urged to aid Moroccan facing death penalty in Ukraine war |url=https://en.hespress.com/43843-uk-urged-to-aid-moroccan-facing-death-penalty-in-ukraine-war.html |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=HESPRESS |language=en-US}}</ref> According to his girlfriend, Brahim's sentence may be a result of trying to "increase his price", however, she does not know what the Russians want in return for him. She last spoke to him on March 27.<ref name="o2">{{Cite web |date=2022-06-13 |title=Rosjanie chcą się targować? Dziewczyna skazańca przemówiła |url=https://www.o2.pl/informacje/rosjanie-chca-sie-targowac-dziewczyna-skazanca-przemowila-6779496432270016a |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=o2 |language=pl}}</ref>
On 17 June, the European Court of Human Rights issued an emergency ruling against Russia and Ukraine following a complaint by Saâdoune. The court ordered Russia and Ukraine to ensure the death penalty was not executed. The court stressed that Russia was still obliged to follow the court's rules. The court also said it was considering the issue of jurisdiction, as Brahim was being held by the internationally unrecognized DPR.<ref>{{Cite web |title=European Court grants urgent measures in case of prisoner of war sentenced to death in the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic" |url=https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng-press?i=003-7361906-10058158 |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=European Court of Human Rights}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Desai |first=Shweta |title=ECHR orders Russia to prevent execution of Moroccan who fought for Ukraine |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/russia-ukraine-war/echr-orders-russia-to-prevent-execution-of-moroccan-who-fought-for-ukraine/2615799 |access-date=2022-06-17 |website=Anadolu Agency}}</ref> Earlier in June, the Russian State Duma passed a law to end the court's jurisdiction in Russia, but it has not yet been signed into law.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Russian State Duma Votes To Quit European Court Of Human Rights |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-duma-votes-to-quit-european-court-human-rights/31887853.html |access-date=2022-06-17 |website=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty |language=en}}</ref>
=== Reactions in Morocco === left|thumb|Tahar Saâdoune speaking at a press conference in RabatThe Moroccan Embassy in Kyiv released a brief statement saying that Saâdoune "enlisted in the Ukrainian army of his own free will", and is "currently imprisoned by an entity which is recognized neither by the United Nations nor by Morocco".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-13 |title=Morocco's Embassy in Kyiv reveals Ibrahim Saadoun was in naval unit, enlisted by free will |url=https://en.hespress.com/43922-moroccos-embassy-in-kyiv-reveals-ibrahim-saadoun-was-in-naval-unit-enlisted-by-free-will.html |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=HESPRESS |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Affaire Brahim Saadoun: premières réactions du Maroc |url=https://www.arabnews.fr/node/254206/monde-arabe |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=Arab News |date=June 14, 2022 |language=fr}}</ref> The statement claimed that Saâdoune had "Ukrainian citizenship", and he was "captured wearing the uniform of the State Army of Ukraine".<ref name="alj">{{Cite web |last=Bakbach |first=Soulaimane |title=Moroccan public push for Ukraine death sentence citizen's release |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/6/14/moroccans-call-to-release-citizen-facing-death-verdict-in-ukraine |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":6" />
The Moroccan-Russian Friendship Association and the Moroccan Committee for Peace and Solidarity appealed directly to Russia to intervene on humanitarian grounds.<ref>{{Cite web |title=مطالب بتدخل السلطات في قضية الطالب إبراهيم سعدون |url=https://alyaoum24.com/1687514.html |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=اليوم 24 – أخبار اليوم على مدار الساعة |language=ar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Saoudi |first=Badr |title=Ukraine: Deux ONG marocaines intercèdent auprès de Poutine pour Brahim Saadoun |url=https://www.arabnews.fr/node/253041/international |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=Arab News |date=June 12, 2022 |language=fr}}</ref> The Moroccan Coalition Against the Death Penalty sent a letter to the Head of Government and Ministry of Foreign Affairs urging the government to intervene.<ref name=":6" />
Saâdoune's father, Tahar, thanked Russian forces for "preserving the life of their son" at a press conference in Rabat.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-27 |title=Father of captured Brahim Saadoun thanks Russian forces for 'preserving life' of his son |url=https://en.hespress.com/44768-father-of-captured-brahim-saadoun-thanks-russian-forces-for-preserving-life-of-his-son.html |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=HESPRESS |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Jaouhar |first=Aymane |title=Le père de Brahim Saadoun : "Mon fils ne craint pas la mort" |url=https://telquel.ma/instant-t/2022/06/27/pere-de-brahim-saadoun-mon-fils-ne-craint-pas-la-mort_1773474/?fbrefresh=4 |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=TelQuel |language=fr}}</ref> During the press conference, he affirmed that Brahim was "a Ukrainian citizen", and denied claims that Brahim was a mercenary.<ref name=":7" /> He urged "the Moroccan government, a country that moved a mountain to save Rayan a few months ago, to intervene".<ref name=":7" />
Morocco's National Human Rights Council contacted the Russian Commissioner for Human Rights to "intervene as much as possible to protect the [Saâdoune's] rights".<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Affaire Brahim Saadoun : le CNDH entre en jeu |url=https://www.lopinion.ma/Affaire-Brahim-Saadoun-le-CNDH-entre-en-jeu_a28517.html |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=L'Opinion |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jaouhar |first=Aymane |title=Affaire Brahim Saadoun : le CNDH écrit à la Russie afin de le sauver de l'exécution |url=https://telquel.ma/instant-t/2022/06/18/affaire-de-brahim-saadoun-le-cndh-ecrit-a-la-russie-afin-de-le-sauver-de-lexecution_1772190/?fbrefresh=4 |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=TelQuel |language=fr}}</ref>
The Moroccan Association for Human Rights provided lawyers to Saâdoune and was planning to observe his appeal, the association elaborated that Saâdoune was a resident and didn't have Ukrainian citizenship.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-23 |title=Affaire Brahim Saadoun : un collectif d'avocats marocains suivra le jugement en appel |url=https://medias24.com/2022/06/23/affaire-ibrahim-saadoun-un-collectif-davocats-marocains-suivra-le-jugement-en-appel/ |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=Médias24 |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-21 |title=AMDH says Brahim Saadoun does not have Ukrainian citizenship, enlists lawyer for his defense |url=https://en.hespress.com/44393-amdh-says-brahim-saadoun-does-not-have-ukrainian-citizenship-enlists-lawyer-for-his-defense.html |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=HESPRESS |language=en-US}}</ref> The Moroccan Center for Human Rights criticized the country's diplomatic silence on the trial, calling for the country to intervene and send lawyers to help Brahim.<ref name="cndh">{{Cite web |last=Oussama |first=Aamari |title=Brahim Saadoun Sentence: CNDH Calls on Morocco to Intervene |url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2022/06/349676/brahim-saadoun-sentence-cndh-calls-on-morocco-to-intervene |access-date=2022-06-13 |website=Morocco World News |language=en}}</ref>
Morocco had adopted a policy of neutrality for the Russian invasion of Ukraine and was absent from UN General Assembly votes regarding the invasion, though Morocco said its decision to not participate in said votes "cannot be the subject of any interpretation in relation to its position of principle concerning the situation between the Russian Federation and Ukraine".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Khabbachi |first=Soufiane |title=Maroc : les autorités réagissent à l'affaire Brahim Saadoun |url=https://www.jeuneafrique.com/1354009/politique/maroc-les-autorites-marocaines-reagissent-a-laffaire-brahim-saadoun/ |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=Jeune Afrique |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=Maroc: L'ex-prisonnier de guerre veut sensibiliser à «la lutte du peuple ukrainien» |url=https://www.arabnews.fr/node/293716/monde-arabe |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=Arab News |date=September 25, 2022 |language=fr}}</ref>
On 15 June, Morocco's House of Councillors requested that foreign minister Nasser Bourita attend a government accountability session regarding Saâdoune, but Bourita's office refused.<ref name=":0" />
Saâdoune's sister said local press in Morocco and people on social media had celebrated her brother's sentence, as pro-Russian views are more common in the Middle East and Africa than in Europe.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-06-21 |title='He's been betrayed': sister of Moroccan man captured in Ukraine pleads for help |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/21/hes-been-betrayed-sister-of-moroccan-man-captured-in-ukraine-pleads-for-help |access-date=2022-06-23 |newspaper=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/russia-is-winning-the-information-war-in-the-middle-east/a-62900269|title=How Russia is winning the information war in the Middle East|website=Deutsche Welle |date=26 August 2022}}</ref>
== Release == thumb|Saâdoune (right) reuniting with his family after his release On September 21, 2022, Saâdoune was released with 9 other detainees held by the Donetsk People's Republic in a prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia brokered by Saudi Arabia.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sabbagh |first=Dan |date=2022-09-23 |title=Saudi foreign minister defends role in securing Ukraine prisoner swaps |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/sep/23/saudi-foreign-minister-defends-role-in-ukraine-prisoner-swaps-khashoggi |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref> Saâdoune was in the process of appealing his case, his family had not been previously informed of the prisoner exchange.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Russian invaders released Moroccan who was "sentenced" to death |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/09/21/7368528/ |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=Ukrainska Pravda |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Benargane |first=Yassine |title=Ukraine : Le Donetsk prolonge le délai permettant à Brahim Saadoun d'interjeter appel |url=https://www.yabiladi.com/articles/details/131992/ukraine-donetsk-prolonge-delai-permettant.html |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=Yabiladi |language=fr}}</ref> Oligarch Roman Abramovich claimed that he played a "key role" in the prisoner exchange deal.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=Abramovich played 'key part' in release of Britons held by Russian-backed troops |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/abramovich-played-key-part-in-release-of-britons-held-by-russian-backed-troops/ |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=The Times of Israel |language=en-US}}</ref>
Saâdoune's father, Tahar, thanked the Saudi authorities "who contributed to the release of Brahim, after King Mohammed VI personally took charge of the case".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jaouhar |first=Aymane |title=Tahar Saadoun : "Le roi Mohammed VI est intervenu auprès du prince héritier saoudien pour libérer mon fils" |url=https://telquel.ma/2022/09/23/tahar-saadoun-le-roi-mohammed-vi-est-intervenu-aupres-du-prince-heritier-saoudien-pour-liberer-mon-fils_1785240?fbrefresh=10 |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=TelQuel |language=fr}}</ref>
Saâdoune arrived in Casablanca and reunited with his family on September 24, 2022, following a medical checkup in Riyadh.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ukraine-Russie: Brahim Saadoun rentre ce samedi au Maroc |url=https://telquel.ma/instant-t/2022/09/24/ukraine-russie-brahim-saadoun-rentre-ce-samedi-au-maroc_1785431/?fbrefresh=7 |access-date=2022-09-24 |website=TelQuel |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-22 |title=Libéré grâce à une médiation saoudienne: L'étudiant Brahim Saadoun rentrera bientôt au bercail |url=https://fr.hespress.com/281235-libere-grace-a-une-mediation-saoudienne-letudiant-brahim-saadoun-rentrera-bientot-au-bercail.html |access-date=2022-09-24 |website=Hespress |language=fr-FR}}</ref> Saâdoune said that he had "suffered from imprisonment but will recover and get back to studying".<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-25 |title=Ibrahim Saadoun wishes to shed light on 'Ukrainian people's struggle' after return to Morocco |url=https://en.hespress.com/49964-ibrahim-saadoun-wishes-to-shed-light-on-ukrainian-peoples-struggle-after-return-to-morocco.html |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=HESPRESS |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Notes == {{notelist}}
== See also == <!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦---> * Russian information war against Ukraine * Aiden Aslin * Shaun Pinner
== References == {{reflist}}
{{Mariupol in the Russo-Ukrainian War}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saadoune, Brahim}} Category:Living people Category:Ukrainian military personnel of the Russian invasion of Ukraine Category:Prisoners of war held by Russia Category:Siege of Mariupol Category:Moroccan prisoners sentenced to death Category:Moroccan expatriates in Ukraine Category:2000 births Category:Pro-Ukraine foreign volunteers in the Russian invasion of Ukraine