Blackrock (Ireland), June 29, 2026 – Front Line Defenders has called on the Moroccan authorities to immediately release Sahrawi human rights defender and political prisoner Naama Asfari, who it says is being arbitrarily and unlawfully detained.
The organization expressed grave concern over the rapid deterioration of his health after he entered the third week of an open-ended hunger strike, which he began on June 8, 2026.
In light of these serious developments, Front Line Defenders voiced deep concern over reports of medical neglect, reprisals, and other forms of ill-treatment suffered by Naama Asfari. The organization urged the Moroccan authorities to ensure his immediate access to adequate, independent, and specialized medical care of his own choosing, and to guarantee his physical and psychological safety throughout his detention. It also called for an end to all forms of reprisals, medical neglect, ill-treatment, and discriminatory treatment against Sahrawi human rights defenders while in detention, and for them to be allowed regular communication with their families and lawyers, as well as access to appropriate healthcare.
Front Line Defenders further called for prompt, thorough, independent, and impartial investigations into all allegations of torture and ill-treatment, and for those responsible to be held accountable. It also urged that any evidence or confessions obtained under torture be excluded from judicial proceedings, in accordance with Morocco's obligations under the Convention against Torture. In addition, the organization called on the Moroccan authorities to ensure that all human rights defenders in Western Sahara are able to carry out their legitimate human rights work freely and safely, without fear of judicial harassment, arbitrary detention, intimidation, or reprisals.
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