The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Human Rights has urgently called on Moroccan authorities to unconditionally and immediately release Sahrawi human rights defender and political prisoner Naama Asfari, expressing grave concern over his deteriorating health due to an indefinite hunger strike that he has been on since June 8, 2026. In an official statement, the Center emphasized that Moroccan authorities must address the legitimate demands of Naama Asfari and engage in constructive dialogue to end the hunger strike, highlighting the critical need for him to receive independent medical care and to maintain regular communication with his family amidst growing worries about his well-being.
The statement referenced Kerry Kennedy, the Center's president, who stated that the continued detention of Mr. Naama Asfari, despite United Nations decisions regarding his case, represents an ongoing state of impunity. Furthermore, the Center pointed out that Asfari, who serves as the vice president of the Committee for Freedom and Respect for Human Rights in Western Sahara (CODESA), dedicated years to documenting human rights violations and advocating for the rights of the Sahrawi people before being arrested alongside the Gdeim Izik group and sentenced to thirty years in prison. This occurred despite the annulment of the military court's verdict against him and the subsequent retrial under civil jurisdiction.
The Center highlighted that United Nations human rights mechanisms have repeatedly concluded that Morocco has violated Naama Asfari's fundamental rights. The Committee Against Torture confirmed that he was subjected to torture, while the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention deemed his detention, along with that of other Gdeim Izik prisoners, to be arbitrary, calling for their release and for investigations into the violations they suffered. The statement also noted that Moroccan authorities have not implemented the United Nations recommendations; on the contrary, they have continued to harass Naama Asfari and his family. Since the beginning of his hunger strike, he has reportedly lost approximately ten kilograms and has had all communication with his family cut off since July 13.
In conclusion, the Center's statement asserted that the ongoing detention of Naama Asfari, despite the repeated decisions from the United Nations, and the refusal to address his legitimate demands, place his life in serious jeopardy and reflect the continued persecution of Sahrawi activists. It urged Moroccan authorities to fully implement the United Nations recommendations and to fulfill their international obligations regarding human rights. It is important to remember that Naama Asfari, the Sahrawi human rights defender and political prisoner, remains on his indefinite hunger strike, which began on June 8 in Kenitra prison, despite the deteriorating state of his health, demanding that Moroccan authorities comply with the recommendations stated in the decisions of the Committee Against Torture and the opinion issued by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
As reported by spsrasd.info.
