Naama Asfari's Ongoing Hunger Strike
Naama Asfari, a prominent Sahrawi activist, has been imprisoned in Morocco since 2010 and is currently entering the second month of an indefinite hunger strike. This act of protest, which commenced on June 8, is aimed at drawing attention to his dire prison conditions, the need for adequate medical care, and his demand to be transferred to a prison in Western Sahara. Despite the seriousness of his situation, Moroccan officials have reported that Asfari's health remains "normal" and that he is being subjected to a special protocol for inmates who engage in hunger strikes. Asfari is serving a 30-year sentence in Kenitra prison, located north of Rabat, for his alleged involvement in the deaths of eleven Moroccan security agents during the dismantling of a Sahrawi protest camp in 2010.
Legal and Human Rights Concerns
Authorities in Morocco have dismissed Asfari's demands as lacking any legal basis, stating that there is no appropriate facility in the southern regions of the country for long-term prison sentences. Asfari is recognized as a leader of the 'Gdaim Izik' group, and in 2017, he was convicted alongside twenty others on charges that included homicide and forming an armed gang. However, international human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have criticized these trials, citing serious procedural irregularities. The families of the imprisoned Sahrawis, including those in the 'Gdaim Izik' group, have rallied for the restoration of their rights and expressed solidarity with Asfari, claiming that their detention represents a significant violation of international humanitarian law. They argue that maintaining these prisoners without a proper legal foundation and denying them a fair trial contravenes the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The families have also highlighted allegations of physical and psychological torture, particularly regarding the denial of necessary medical care and prolonged isolation. They are calling for the release of Sahrawi civilian prisoners and urging intervention from international bodies such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the World Health Organization, and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
As reported by infobae.com.
