The human rights situation in occupied Western Sahara is grave. There are numerous reports of horrific abuse including arbitrary arrest, disappearance, false imprisonment, unfair trials and torture – such as burning, blindfolding for extended periods, suspension in contorted positions and rape. Since the intifada in 2005 the situation has escalated, and in their 2007 report, Amnesty International found that Saharawi human rights activists continued to be the subject of intimidation by the security forces.
"I was kidnapped and detained in prison for 4 years. I was blindfolded continuously throughout this time, and spent 9 months in solitary confinement…sometimes we would be forced to face the wall with our hands tied and spend the whole night standing on one foot. If we fell, we were tortured...the threat of rape meant we were afraid to sleep…my family had no idea of my whereabouts."
Aminatou Haidar, Saharawi activist speaking about her experiences. Sandblast Festival, October 2007, London.
Inside the Black Prison in Laayoune, capital of occupied Western Sahara
Moroccan secret police are also placed in schools, in an attempt to crush any student activism. A recent report by the Saharawi human rights organisation CODESA, found that in April and May 2007 over 60 children aged 9 – 17 years were arrested or maltreated, and it is alleged that many were threatened with serious repercussions should they report their treatment.iii
Following concern about the human rights situation, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) sent a delegation to the region in May 2006. The resulting report confirmed many of these violations of human rights, finding the situation of ‘serious concern’ and called for urgent action, including: closer monitoring of the human rights situation; urgent measures to protect human rights; and implementation of the right to self-determination.
Despite pressure from both representatives of the Saharawi people, and human rights organisations, the report has never been formally released.
The OHCHR report found evidence of human rights abuses including:
• Violence against pro-independence Saharawis Saharawis participating in demonstrations against the occupation report experiencing violent beatings, imprisonment and torture. On the 30 October 2005 a young Saharawi, Hamdi Lembarki died after being savagely beaten by security forces.
• Restrictions on freedom of expression. The Moroccan authorities claim that their actions are in response to ‘illegal’ demonstrators. However, Morocco refuses to legalise pro-independence associations and press legislation provides prison terms for those who challenge Morocco’s “territorial integrity”. In addition, since November 2005, Moroccan authorities have banned access to pro-independence websites and websites documenting human rights abuses. This was confirmed by the report, which found serious restrictions to Saharawi freedom of expression and "…administrative hurdles imposed by authorities may compromise the ability of the people of Western Sahara to fully exercise their right to freedom of expression and assembly."
• Unfair Trials It is clear that many Saharawis have been imprisoned following unfair trials. Evidence of this includes defendants denied the right to call witnesses; trials being postponed when independent observers were in attendance; harassment of defendants and their families; and tainted evidence such as 'confessions' extracted under torture and written statements by police, which are denied by defendants. In several trials Amnesty International found that evidence of this kind was accepted without examination of the veracity of the defendants' claims.
After I was arrested they took me to the secret detention centre called PCCMI where many Saharawi have been taken since 1975 and abductions are still taking place today…I was subjected to all types of torture, threats of rape amongst other things. I was there for 3 days as they fabricated accusations against me."
El Ouali Ameidan, aged 20, Political Prisoner Documentary, Children of the Clouds, Carlos Gonzales, May 2006
These concerns are all echoed in the OHCHR report which found: “serious deficiencies with regard to ensuring the right to a fair trial."
Human rights and self-determination "In as much as it calls for a political solution, the question of self-determination is a fundamental human right."
The report is clear in its assertion that the human rights crisis is a direct result of the lack of a right to self-determination.
"Almost all violations of human rights noted above stem from the non-realization of this right, including civil and political rights as well as economic, social and cultural rights of the people of Western Sahara in all locations where they currently reside."
WESTERN SAHARA CAMPAIGN UK
The Western Sahara Campaign works in solidarity with the Saharawi people to generate political support in order to advance their right to self-determination and to promote their human rights.
Our role is to lobby the UK Government and the EU. You can help us to ensure the UK does not ignore the voice of the Saharawi people.
Follow the news about EU's illegal fisheries in Western Sahara
