Geneva, 12 March 2025 (SPS) – Sahrawi human rights defender Ghalia Abdallah Djimi condemned Morocco's systematic use of the Pegasus spyware to surveil and intimidate journalists and activists in occupied Western Sahara.
In her speech before the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, which began on February 24 and continues until April 4, Djimi stated that "Moroccan authorities exploit this advanced technology to violate the rights of human rights defenders and restrict fundamental freedoms, particularly targeting women who are subjected to systematic defamation and intimidation campaigns."
She added that this targeting "is not isolated but part of a broader pattern used to silence free voices."
The Sahrawi activist called on the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Privacy to open a comprehensive investigation into the use of Pegasus in occupied Western Sahara and other regions, emphasizing that the use of spyware to surveil opponents constitutes "a grave violation of international law."
Concluding her speech, Djimi urged the international community, including civil society organizations in Europe and America, as well as the African Union, to take "urgent" action to protect the right to privacy and freedom of expression and to halt the "repressive practices" that threaten human rights defenders in occupied Western Sahara.
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