Bologna (Italy) 11 October 2024 (SPS) – Amnesty International Italy branch held a discussion in Bologna on the development of the human rights struggle in Western Sahara, last Wednesday, marking the anniversary of Gdeim Izik protest camp, which was organized by Sahrawis in the occupied city of Aaiun in 2010, protesting against the Moroccan occupation.
The discussion was animated by human rights researcher and member of Amnesty Italy, Mrs. Deborah Del Pistoia, with the participation of Polisario Front's Representative in Italy, Mrs. Fatima Mahfoud, Sahrawi human rights defenders, Mr. Brahim Dahane, and Mr. Mohamed Dihani, and representatives of a wide network of Italian civil society organizations. Over 200 young people and students from various fields attended the event.
Mrs. Deborah provided the audience with a general overview of the nature of the Western Sahara conflict and its human rights context, focusing on the severe violations suffered by the Sahrawi people at the hands of Morocco over the past decades.
Sahrawi human rights defender Brahim Dahane presented a grim picture of the human rights situation in the occupied territories of Western Sahara, detailing the violations committed by Moroccan forces since 1975.
He also shared key moments from his personal experience as a victim of enforced disappearance, torture, and other abuses. Dahane highlighted the evolution of the Sahrawi human rights struggle in the occupied territories.
He emphasized the responsibility of the younger generations to continue the global struggle, ensuring the adherence to international humanitarian law and human rights law. Despite their limitations, these international frameworks, he adds, remain the minimum standard for maintaining peace and coexistence between nations and within countries.
Dahane expressed deep regret over the inaction of the United Nations and the international community, which remain either unable or unwilling to enforce international law to resolve the conflict in line with the decolonization principles applied to similar past cases.
Polisario Front Representative Fatima Mahfoud provided an overview of the legal and political foundations of the Western Sahara issue.
She stressed the importance for younger generations to deepen their understanding of the conflict's legal and political aspects to fully grasp its roots, causes, and possible solutions, avoiding any external impositions by Morocco or international actors to legitimize the colonial status quo over the Sahrawi people.
The Sahrawi diplomat also discussed the history and challenges of building the Sahrawi state in the face of relentless opposition from colonial powers since the 1970s.
Despite the significant challenges due to limited resources, she highlighted the remarkable achievements made by the Sahrawi people and their political leadership, the Polisario Front, and the Sahrawi Republic.
Fatima Mahfoud further drew attention to the dire situation of Sahrawi political prisoners in Moroccan prisons, emphasizing that their suffering requires stronger international solidarity and increased pressure on the occupying state.
She underscored that international solidarity plays a crucial role in promoting and safeguarding the rights of the Sahrawi people under the difficult conditions they face.
Both Brahim Dahane and Fatima Mahfoud urged Italian youth to actively engage in supporting international legitimacy and defending human rights everywhere, encouraging them to take responsibility as future citizens and leaders.
The event concluded with a diverse musical performance featuring bands and artists from Italy and various Maghreb countries.
Hundreds of young people and students attended the musical show, all of whom adhering to anti-colonial, anti-racist, and human rights movements and tendencies. (SPS)
090/500/60 (SPS)