Occupied El Aaiún, 12 January 2024 (SPS) - The Sahrawi Committee for Sahrawi Employees and Workers, who have been arbitrarily dismissed by the Moroccan state, condemns the continued policy of retaliation by the Moroccan regime against defenders and activists advocating for the right to self-determination of the Sahrawi people, calling on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities and protect Sahrawi civilians and enable them to exercise all their fundamental rights.
In a statement, the Sahrawi human rights committee emphasized that the Moroccan occupation persists in its policy of revenge against human rights defenders and isolated Sahrawi activists due to their anti-occupation activities. It highlighted the recent abuse of Sahrawi rights defenders in the occupied city of El Aaiún, because of their peaceful protest against the restrictions and violations of their rights, as part of the policy of retaliation that the Moroccan occupation authorities are pursuing against human rights defenders.
The committee expressed solidarity with the women rights activists who have been subjected to mistreatment, condemning the continuation of the policy of retaliation against Sahrawi defenders and activists in the occupied territories by the occupying state.
In this context, the Sahrawi human rights committee called on the international community for "immediate intervention" to halt all forms of retaliation by the Moroccan state against Sahrawis. The committee urged the international community to assume full responsibility in enabling the Sahrawi people to exercise their fundamental rights, including their right to self-determination, freedom, and independence.