Berlin (Germany), 17 July 2026 (SPS) – The European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and Human Rights (ELDH) has expressed deep concern over reports that Sahrawi human rights defender and political prisoner Naâma Asfari is in critical health condition after launching an open-ended hunger strike on 8 June 2026 at Kenitra Prison in Morocco, having exhausted all legitimate means of protest in the face of the complete disregard by the Moroccan prison administration for his legitimate demands.
The ELDH called on the Moroccan authorities to ensure that Naâma Asfari receives independent and appropriate medical care without delay, guarantee his right to communicate with his family and legal representatives, and allow independent monitoring of the conditions of his detention. It also called for the full implementation of the recommendations of the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, including his immediate release.
The ELDH further urged the United Nations, the European Union, the African Union, the International Committee of the Red Cross and all relevant international human rights mechanisms to take urgent action to protect Mr. Asfari's fundamental rights and ensure compliance with international human rights law.
The ELDH reiterated that protecting the life, dignity and fundamental rights of all detainees is an obligation that admits no exception, at a time when the credibility of the international legal system depends on the consistent implementation of United Nations decisions relating to human rights.
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