Shaheed El-Hafed, May 16, 2025 (SPS) - In its annual report for 2025, the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) revealed a systematic policy of retaliation against Sahrawi human rights defenders, particularly those cooperating with UN mechanisms, amid increasing repression in Western Sahara.
The report, covering the period from May 2023 to April 2025, noted that Moroccan authorities resort to intimidation, surveillance, physical assaults, and legal prosecutions to silence voices demanding basic rights and freedoms, asserting that these violations constitute a direct retaliatory response to cooperation with the United Nations.
Patterns and Methods of Targeting:
- Close surveillance and security restrictions on the homes and activities of defenders.
- Direct physical assault.
- Denial of civil rights, work, and economic harassment.
- Media vilification and defamation through official and semi-official media.
Regarding the targeting of Sahrawi defenders cooperating with the United Nations, the 2025 ISHR report documented at least 12 direct retaliatory cases during the reporting period, including threats of violence, torture, constant surveillance, and judicial harassment.
Status of Political Prisoners:
The report dedicated significant space to the Gdim Izik group, whose members continue to suffer from harsh detention conditions that violate international standards, despite international calls for their release. It highlighted the absence of fair trials, as well as the torture and ill-treatment experienced by group members, in clear disregard of UN committee recommendations.
Calls for Action:
The organization urged the international community, particularly the United Nations and member states, to take immediate steps to protect Sahrawi defenders and hold accountable those responsible for the violations, emphasizing the necessity of enabling the Sahrawi people to express their demands without fear of punishment or retaliation.
https://ishr.ch/wp-content/
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