UN Expert Slams Morocco for Harassment of Sahrawi Activist Ali Salem Tamek
NEW YORK – UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, has voiced serious concern over Morocco’s persistent harassment and intimidation of Sahrawi activist Ali Salem Tamek, president of the Collective of Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders (CODESA).
In a statement released Thursday, Lawlor condemned acts of defamation, political threats, physical attacks, and surveillance targeting Tamek. She also cited restrictions on his freedom of movement and peaceful assembly, saying these measures appear to be retaliation for his human rights work and public criticism of detention conditions and alleged abuses.
In a formal communication sent to Rabat in February, Lawlor and other UN experts documented ongoing violations including constant police presence outside Tamek’s home, repeated travel bans, and attempts to evict him from his rented apartment. They warned that such actions violate Morocco’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, particularly the rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and movement.
Despite the UN’s intervention, the harassment reportedly continued into February and March, prompting renewed calls for accountability and protection of Sahrawi human rights defenders.
