Orly (France), April 18, 2018 (SPS) – Member of SADR Friendship Association in France and wife of one of the Saharawi political prisoners of the group of Gdeim Izik, Claude Mangin-Asfari has declared Tuesday in a statement that she will initiate an unlimited hunger strike starting today, Wednesday, April 18, 2018
"Since October 2016, I am not authorized to enter Morocco. Yesterday I was expelled for the fourth time. Given these circumstances, I declare that I am going on unlimited hunger strike starting today, Wednesday, April 18, 2018. I will be welcomed at the City Hall of Ivry sur Seine, the city where I live, who named Naama a Citizen of Honor 3 years ago, " the activist says.
"My wish is to return to Morocco to see my husband Naama Asfari, a Saharawi political prisoner, sentenced to 30 years in prison after two unfair trials, as well as his colleagues from the Gdeim Izik group for their peaceful struggle for the independence of occupied Western Sahara from Morocco for more than 40 years, " Claude Mangin-Asfari adds.
Naama has received the Human Rights Award granted by the ACAT Foundation for Human Dignity in January. The Committee against Torture of the UN in Geneva condemned Morocco for the first time for torture in the person of Naama in December 2016. This sentence asked Morocco for his release and not to retaliate against his family
Claude Mangin-Asfari said his hunger strike will cease when he is allowed to see his husband again in prison after 21 months of prohibition. "I am convinced that this commitment that I assume through an act that can endanger my health will be a strong argument for the French government to obtain from its Moroccan colleague entry authorization that it not able to achieve until now," she declares.SPS
125/090/TRA