Occupied El Aaiún, 18 June 2024 (SPS) - The Moroccan occupying forces have attacked Sahrawi activists who tried to organize a peaceful demonstration in the city of El Aaiún, coinciding with the commemoration of the historic Zemla Intifada.
According to a Sahrawi human rights source, "despite the tight siege imposed by the Moroccan occupation forces in the occupied part, and coinciding with the commemoration of the historic Zemla Intifada, a group of Sahrawi women activists tried to organize a peaceful demonstration on Smara street in the heart of the occupied city of El Aaiún under the conditions of repression, siege and censorship."
During the protesters' attempt to reach the designated place for the gathering, the source adds, "the elements of the occupation authorities intervened forcefully to verbally and physically abuse them and deter them with excessive force, resulting in varying degrees of injuries."
Among the activists were former prisoner Dekja Lashegar, former prisoner and activist Fatimtu El Hayrech, former prisoner Mahfouda Lefeqir, activist Khadijetu Duihi, and journalist Salha Butenkoiza, who were targeted by elements wearing civilian clothes and driving a black civilian car and Moroccan police vehicles.