The Urgent Appeal to Pope Leo XIV Regarding Western Sahara
CHAHHID EL HAFED-. The Movement for Sahrawi Political Prisoners in Moroccan Prisons (MPPS) has reached out to Pope Leo XIV in a heartfelt letter ahead of his impending visit to Spain, urging him to take notice of the dire situation in Western Sahara, which has been militarily occupied by Morocco. The letter emphasizes the pressing need for international awareness and intervention concerning the plight of Sahrawi political prisoners who are unjustly detained far from their homeland.
As we prepare to welcome His Holiness to Spain, we feel compelled to bring to his attention the grave injustices faced by the Sahrawi people. The MPPS is dedicated to advocating for the release of Sahrawi political prisoners who are currently held in Moroccan prisons, often over a thousand kilometers away from their homes. These individuals endure inhumane conditions, including torture, humiliation, lack of medical care, and inadequate access to basic necessities such as hygiene, food, and communication, all without legal representation. Some have been isolated since September 2017, highlighting the urgent need for action.
Every Monday, we gather in front of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation to protest against the Moroccan occupation and to draw attention to the situation of these prisoners. Our hope is that the minister will engage with Moroccan authorities to secure their release or, at the very least, to improve their conditions in detention.
The reason we direct our appeal to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs is due to Spain's historical role as the administering power of Western Sahara. Once a Spanish colony, this territory was handed over to Morocco and Mauritania in 1975 without conducting a legal referendum for self-determination, a crucial step for the Sahrawi people to determine their future. Spain's failure to acknowledge its responsibility in this matter is concerning. Furthermore, in March 2022, President Sánchez formally declared that Moroccan autonomy over Western Sahara was the most “serious, credible, and realistic” basis for resolution, a stance that contradicts international law.
His Holiness has expressed sorrow in the face of injustice, violence, and deceit. Thus, we earnestly hope that the plight of the Sahrawi people under Moroccan military occupation will attract his attention. Perhaps this can inspire our president to confront his obligations towards international law—obligations he claims to uphold—towards our Sahrawi brothers and, ultimately, towards the principles of democracy.
In times of prayer for the suffering, we are aware that many endure the consequences of others' abuses.
As reported by spsrasd.info.
