Sahrawi Political Prisoners of Gdeim Izik Condemn Moroccan Repression and Call for MINURSO’s Human Rights Monitoring
Sahrawi political prisoners from the Gdeim Izik group have strongly condemned the ongoing campaigns of repression and intimidation carried out by the Moroccan occupier against human rights defenders and Sahrawi activists. In a statement issued on Wednesday, they urged the international community to expand the mandate of MINURSO (the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) to include human rights monitoring in the occupied territories.
“We, the Sahrawi political prisoners of the Gdeim Izik group, condemn all forms of repression and intimidation imposed by the Moroccan occupier on our resilient people,” the statement read. The prisoners denounced physical violence and the siege imposed on the homes of Sahrawi activists, emphasizing that these oppressive measures aim to silence voices, maintain the status quo, deny the Sahrawi people their right to freedom and dignity, and perpetuate the occupation.
Expressing solidarity with Sahrawi human rights defenders and activists struggling for self-determination, the prisoners renewed their call for international protection of the Sahrawi people against the oppression they face. They reiterated the urgent need to expand MINURSO’s mandate to include human rights monitoring, a demand long ignored by the Moroccan authorities and their allies.
In their statement, the prisoners also paid tribute to their fellow resistance fighters, who, despite suffering restrictions, intimidation, and violence, remain steadfast in their belief that resistance is the only path to achieving the goal for which the Sahrawi people have sacrificed so much for over half a century.
“We salute this resilience and perseverance, from which we draw the strength to withstand the repressive policies inflicted upon us in Moroccan prisons,” the prisoners affirmed.
Furthermore, the Gdeim Izik prisoners urged the United Nations and the international community to pressure Morocco to end its occupation of Western Sahara, respect international law, and acknowledge the Sahrawi people’s right to freedom, independence, and self-determination.
Their statement comes just days after the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders strongly condemned the continued harassment, surveillance, and restrictions imposed on Sahrawi activists. The organization called on the Moroccan authorities of occupation to put an end to their systematic repression.
APS
