Equipe Media – El Aaiun/Occupied Western Sahara
26-04-2024
Amnesty International’s 2023/2024 annual report exposes ongoing repression and grave human rights violations endured by the Sahrawi people under Moroccan occupation. The report expresses growing concern about the systematic persecution aimed at silencing dissent and denying fundamental rights to the Sahrawi population.
A central theme is the crackdown on Sahrawi activists who criticize the Moroccan regime. The report details the case of Mahfouda Lefkir, a prominent Sahrawi activist subjected to “continuous surveillance, harassment, and intimidation, extending to her family,” after expressing solidarity with fellow activists in Dakhla. Amnesty emphasizes that “these actions constitute a blatant violation of her right to freedom of expression and assembly.”
The arbitrary expulsion of Italian researcher Roberto Cantoni from El Aaiún further underscores the regime’s intolerance towards independent scrutiny. Cantoni’s expulsion without due process exposes the arbitrary nature of Moroccan actions and their disregard for fundamental rights.
The report also details the brutal suppression of peaceful protests. During UN Secretary-General’s Envoy Staffan De Mistura’s visit to El Aaiún, Moroccan forces violently dispersed demonstrators, assaulting protestors and hindering their communication with international observers.
Furthermore, Moroccan authorities have consistently obstructed the work of Sahrawi human rights organizations, such as CODESA, resorting to physical violence and closures like the shuttering of the Sahrawi Association for Victims of Serious Human Rights Violations’ headquarters.
Amnesty’s report sheds light on disturbing allegations of torture and ill-treatment of individuals advocating for Sahrawi self-determination. The case of Abd El Tawab El Terkzi, who faced torture and threats after expressing pride in his Sahrawi identity, exemplifies the regime’s “brutal tactics to crush any form of dissent.”
The findings underscore the urgent need for international attention and action. Amnesty calls for increased pressure on Morocco to end its repression, respect Sahrawi rights, and allow for genuine dialogue and self-determination. Failure to act, the report warns, perpetuates injustice and undermines human rights and international law principles.