Fears Grow for Sahrawi Prisoner Entering Sixth Week of Hunger Strike in Morocco
Rabat, Morocco – Concerns surrounding the health of Sahrawi political prisoner Naama Asfari have escalated as he enters his sixth week of an indefinite hunger strike. Detained in Kenitra prison, Asfari commenced his protest on 8 June in pursuit of his release, citing violations of UN rulings by Moroccan authorities.
Background: The Gdeim Izik Protest Camp
In 2010, Asfari was involved in the Gdeim Izik protest camp near Laayoune in the Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara. The camp aimed to highlight the dire human rights situation, poverty, and discrimination faced by Sahrawis under Moroccan rule. The Moroccan security forces violently dismantled the camp, resulting in numerous civilian casualties and arrests.
Torture and Conviction
Despite the allegations of torture during his arrest and subsequent interrogation, Asfari and others were convicted of involvement in the deaths of Moroccan police officers. However, the UN Committee Against Torture (CAT) deemed these confessions coerced and called for their convictions to be overturned.
International Pressure and Concerns
Human rights organizations like the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) have urged Morocco to comply with the CAT ruling and a recent UN Working Group opinion recommending his release. The group expressed deep concern for Asfari’s health and called for immediate action to protect his life.
Western Sahara: A Long-Standing Conflict
Western Sahara has been under Moroccan control since 1975, with the Sahrawis claiming ownership of the territory. The Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, has fought for independence for decades, leading to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Sahrawi refugees to camps in southwestern Algeria.
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