Mexico City, July 15, 2026 (SPS) – The Mexico–Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic Friendship Group of the Chamber of Deputies has called for the immediate and unconditional release of Sahrawi political prisoner and human rights defender Naâma Asfari, whose health has seriously deteriorated after more than a month on hunger strike at Kenitra Prison in Morocco.
In a statement, the parliamentary friendship group said Asfari had been imprisoned for 15 years for peacefully defending the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination and independence.
It described his detention as an injustice and a violation of human rights, stressing that his confession had been obtained through torture, a fact previously established by United Nations mechanisms and reaffirmed by the UN Committee against Torture.
The Mexican lawmakers expressed deep concern over the refusal of the Moroccan occupation authorities to address Asfari's demands, provide adequate medical care and allow access to his family, describing the situation as “an act of extreme cruelty” and a further manifestation of Morocco's repressive policy against the Sahrawi people in the occupied territories.
The Mexico–SADR Friendship Group joined calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Naâma Asfari and all Sahrawi political prisoners, as well as Morocco's compliance with UN resolutions, recommendations and views concerning human rights.
It also called for urgent and independent medical care for Asfari and immediate access to him for his family, lawyers and international humanitarian organizations.
The group further urged the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the International Committee of the Red Cross to be granted access to detention centers where Sahrawi political prisoners are being held.
