Equipe Media
El Aaiun – Occupied Western Sahara | June 8, 2024
In a verdict sparking condemnation from human rights groups, a Moroccan court sentenced two Saharawi student activists, Aiman Al Yathrabi and Hussain Bourekkba, to ten years in prison on June 6, 2024. The men were charged with violence, assaulting public officials, obstructing roadways. Saharawi rights organizations vehemently deny these accusations, calling the convictions politically motivated.
Bourekkba was apprehended in March 2024 at a cafe near Agadir University, while Al Yathrabi’s arrest occurred near campus in January 2024. Both are known advocates for Saharawi student rights and the Saharawi people’s right to self-determination. Colleagues and rights groups believe the sentences are intended to silence activists and intimidate future activism.
The detainees confirmed they were tortured for confessions, but these claims were reportedly disregarded by the court. The verdict heavily relied on these contested confessions and police records, despite the prosecution’s inability to present conclusive evidence.
This incident embodies a broader trend of suppression in Western Sahara, where Moroccan occupation authorities are effectively silencing activists. The Collective of Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders and the Sahrawi Organization Against Moroccan Occupation condemned the sentences as politically motivated, aimed at suppressing Sahrawi activist movements and deterring calls for self-determination and independence.
It’s worth remembering that Western Sahara currently lacks universities. This means Saharawi students who earn their Baccalaureate must travel significant distances, often exceeding 700 kilometers, to attend universities in Morocco. This journey can be not only geographically challenging but may also involve facing potential discrimination.
