Equipe Media September 13th 2023
Occupied Western Sahara
Sahrawi journalist Saleha Bouenigiza has detailed a harrowing account of the violent crackdown on protesters in El Aaiún, Western Sahara. The crackdown took place on September 12, 2023, during a protest against Morocco’s illegal occupation of the territory.
Bouenigiza said that the policewomen and settlers who attacked the protesters used physical violence, including hair-pulling, pinching, and punches. The violence was so severe that it left lasting marks on the victims.
The violence even continued in the hospital, where the wounded were threatened with death. The hospital was also closed, denying the victims essential medical treatment.
Videos of the crackdown have been posted online, providing a grim glimpse into the violence. Morocco has attempted to downplay the incident, claiming that it was a women’s roadblock that was dispersed by female police units. However, this claim is contradicted by the videos, which show that the violence was perpetrated by both male and female police officers.
The crackdown in El Aaiún is a clear violation of human rights. It is also a sign of Morocco’s determination to suppress the peaceful resistence in occupied Western Sahara.said Boutengiza
