Demands for Safety and Well-being of Detained Activists
On June 22, 2026, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders issued a stark call emphasizing the urgent need to ensure the physical safety and psychological well-being of Niama Asfari and all members of the Gdeim Izik group who remain imprisoned in Morocco. The statement highlights the necessity of granting them the right to visitations and facilitating their access to appropriate healthcare. The Observatory reiterated its commitment to advocating for the immediate and unconditional release of Niama Asfari and his companions, along with all defenders of Sahrawi rights currently held in Moroccan prisons. It condemned any acts of harassment, intimidation, or reprisal directed against Asfari, members of the Gdeim Izik group, and all activists and organizations dedicated to the rights of the Sahrawi people, stressing the importance of allowing them to carry out their legitimate activities without fear of retaliation.
Niama Asfari's Hunger Strike and Health Concerns
The statement also noted that Mr. Niama Asfari embarked on an open-ended hunger strike as of June 8, 2026, demanding the implementation of decisions made by the Committee Against Torture and the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, particularly concerning his conviction which has been labeled as "arbitrary". The call for his immediate release and compensation, along with an independent investigation into his unlawful deprivation of freedom, underscores the broader implications of his protest. The hunger strike is not merely an expression of dissent but a significant protest against the inhumane and degrading conditions of his imprisonment, medical neglect, and systematic reprisals faced by Sahrawi prisoners in Moroccan jails. Furthermore, he advocates for their transfer back to Western Sahara to facilitate family visits. The Observatory has expressed grave concern regarding the deteriorating health condition of Niama Asfari, particularly as he continues his hunger strike into its eleventh day. This situation is alarming given the previous condemnation by the Committee Against Torture in 2022 regarding Morocco's restrictions on prisoners' access to healthcare. Asfari's transfer outside Western Sahara complicates family visitations, as seen in the case of his French wife, Claude Mongin, who has been barred from entering Moroccan territory since 2019.
The prolonged detention of Mr. Niama Asfari is viewed as part of a broader strategy to criminalize Sahrawi rights defenders, and the Observatory condemned the ongoing detention of him and all members of the Gdeim Izik group as a form of punishment for their legitimate human rights advocacy. In conclusion, the Observatory, a partnership between the World Organization Against Torture and the International Federation for Human Rights, urged Moroccan authorities to release Niama Asfari immediately and unconditionally. They also called for a prompt, independent, and impartial investigation into the torture and mistreatment he has suffered, as well as the arbitrary deprivation of his freedom, ensuring appropriate reparations in accordance with the concluding observations of the Committee Against Torture and the recommendations of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. Additionally, the Observatory demands an end to all acts of harassment, including judicial actions, against him and all Sahrawi rights defenders.
As reported by spsrasd.info.
