President Ghali Appeals for Immediate Action on Sahrawi Prisoners' Rights
On October 6, 2026, the President of the Sahrawi Republic and Secretary-General of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, issued an urgent appeal to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, demanding immediate intervention regarding the alarming circumstances faced by Sahrawi civilian prisoners currently held in Moroccan jails. This call to action comes in light of an escalating crisis following an indefinite hunger strike that commenced on September 23, involving nine Sahrawi political prisoners from the Gdeim Izik group, who are incarcerated in Ait Melloul 2, Tiflet 2, and Kenitra prisons.
In his correspondence, President Ghali underscored the increasingly dire conditions within these facilities, emphasizing the prisoners' protest against the intolerable living situations, blatant violations of international humanitarian law—specifically the Fourth Geneva Convention—and the Moroccan authorities' disregard for UN recommendations concerning arbitrary detention and acts of torture. Instead of addressing the legitimate demands of these prisoners, which include a request for relocation closer to their families residing in the occupied territories of Western Sahara, the Moroccan authorities have chosen to intensify repression. This has included the dispersal of protests, the imposition of communication restrictions, and coercive transfer of detainees without prior notification to their families.
President Ghali expressed grave concern for the health of several detainees, notably Mohamed Bani and Hassanna Aalia (Hassan Eddah), who are reportedly in critical condition and in dire need of adequate medical treatment. He also condemned the ongoing harassment faced by the families of these prisoners, who endure significant travel obstacles and are often denied their rights to visit their loved ones.
In his letter, President Ghali urged the UN Secretary-General and the broader international community to fulfill their responsibilities by taking immediate action to put an end to the retaliatory measures against these civilians and to secure the unconditional release of all Sahrawi political prisoners. He stressed that these individuals are being unjustly detained solely for advocating the implementation of UN resolutions and the inalienable right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination and independence.
As reported by spsrasd.info.
