On April 30, 2026, in Kenitra, Morocco, Sahrawi civilian prisoner Naâma Asfari, who is affiliated with the Gdeim Izik group, commenced a warning hunger strike. This significant protest, as reported by the League for the Protection of Sahrawi Prisoners in Moroccan Prisons, is a response to the ongoing silence and systematic neglect from Moroccan authorities, which has persisted over the past three years. The family of Asfari issued a statement highlighting that this warning hunger strike is a precursor to an open-ended hunger strike, reflecting their deep frustration over the lack of action following the historic opinion issued by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in April 2023.
The family underscored that the decision to embark on an open-ended hunger strike is not merely a personal choice but rather a moral imperative to challenge what they perceive as the injustice and illegality surrounding the detention of the Gdeim Izik group. They expressed the urgency of this action as a means to attract the attention of the international community, particularly the United Nations and its relevant mechanisms, to their plight. The family aims to remind Moroccan authorities of their legal obligations to enact the recommendations and measures advised by the Working Group.
In light of these developments, the League for the Protection of Sahrawi Prisoners has voiced its unwavering solidarity with Naâma Asfari, affirming full support for his legitimate demands and those of his fellow inmates in Moroccan prisons. The organization has pledged to closely monitor the situation surrounding this hunger strike, particularly considering the potential risks to Asfari’s health. They have also committed to maintaining open lines of communication with Asfari's family to provide support and updates as the situation unfolds.
As reported by spsrasd.info.
