Over the past eight years, the Moroccan authorities began imposing penalties on Sahrawi citizens and human rights activists with the intention of forcing the international community to accept its governance project and silencing those who rejected it. This persistent violation of the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination is a serious concern and undermines their basic human rights.
As a result of these punitive decisions, Sahrawi human rights activists have faced ongoing threats from the Moroccan security forces. This has included salary cuts, harassment, monitoring of their homes, restrictions on visitors, including family members, and mistreatment at checkpoints and airports, including beatings and degrading searches. The situation reached a new low on January 23, 2023, when human rights defenders Sidi Mohamed Dadach, Al-Waara Khia, Maryam Dambar, and Iglegaha Al-Idrisi were subjected to humiliating searches, isolated from other travelers, and stripped of their clothing in private rooms at El-Ayoun Airport in Western Sahara, over fears that secret cameras were installed to pressure and blackmail them. On February 1st, Zinabou Babi, Al-Hafizi Embarka, and Fakkah Abedadi, who were traveling from the Sahrawi refugee camps in Tindouf, faced similar treatment. These actions are unacceptable and a clear violation of basic human rights, including the right to privacy and dignity.
The Moroccan authorities have also expelled human rights defenders, including Mayara Muhammad, Hammadi Al-Nasseri, Mina Abaali, Al-Maalouma Abdullah, Mahfouda Lafkir, Mohammad Maluno, Kabal Juda, Al-Idrisi Aglijlha, Nadhira Milad, Al-Hanafi Basir, and Zio Abdel-Rahman, from their work. On January 17, the authorities even prevented human rights activist Sakina Jadahlou from setting up her tent near Smara in Western Sahara and confiscated it with the help of the Royal Gendarmerie and the Auxiliary Forces.
These actions by the Moroccan authorities are part of the ongoing domination they have exercised over Western Sahara and its resources for the past 48 years, and a clear violation of international law through the perpetuation of repression, arbitrary arrests, and harsh trials against those who advocate for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. This was exemplified in the recent 20-year prison sentence for Ahmetou Lkweri on November 29, 2022. Additionally, the Moroccan authorities have imposed strict sieges on cities in Western Sahara and have prevented international human rights organizations, media, and observers from entering, with over 286 foreigners being expelled since 2014.
The Moroccan occupation authorities are punishing Sahrawi human rights defenders for their efforts to expose crimes and advocate for accountability through international law, while also trying to silence their voices through coercion, intimidation and smear campaigns. This runs counter to the principles of the international system, which is founded on respect for international law and its regulations.
Freedomsun Defenders strongly denounces the illegitimate actions taken by the Moroccan authorities, which are a continuation of human rights violations under international law against the Saharawi people.
Freedomsun Defenders warns of the potentially dangerous consequences of the international community’s indifference towards these illegal decisions by the Moroccan authorities. The silence of the United Nations in regards to these human rights violations only serves to support the Moroccan authorities, which may result in further crimes against innocent Sahrawi civilians who are protected under international law.
Freedomsun Defenders reiterates its call for the international community to take immediate action to put a stop to the crimes and violations committed against the Sahrawi people. This requires the occupying state to comply with international law, bring an end to its illegal occupation of Western Sahara, and provide support to the Sahrawi people so that they may exercise their legitimate rights.
Executive Office Freedomsun Defenders for the Protection of Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders on February 14, 2023.