Sahrawi National Committee for Human Rights expresses concern over situation of Sahrawi civilian prisoners in Moroccan jails

Shaheed El-Hafed, 30 May 2020 (SPS) - The Sahrawi National Committee for Human Rights on Friday expressed concern over the situation of Sahrawi civilian prisoners in the Moroccan jails, calling on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to intervene immediately to release them, especially amid the alarming outbreak of Coronavirus, including in Morocco.

In a letter to ICRC President, Mr. Peter Maurer, the Committee made clear that the dire situation in the Moroccan prisons and the severe lack of basic sanitary and hygiene conditions necessary to protect prisoners is a constant threat to the lives of those prisoners, because of their political opinions and peaceful activities as human rights defenders, as affirmed by all international organizations.

In its letter, the Committee said that it could not understand the fact that the ICRC had not yet visited Sahrawi political prisoners in Moroccan prisons, noting that the ICRC had been welcomed received great welcome and cooperation from the Sahrawi authorities since the 1970s to visit Moroccan prisoners of war throughout their captivity until the release of the last Moroccan prisoner.

The Committee noted that the ICRC had never provided equal assistance to victims of enforced disappearances, prisoners of war and Sahrawi political prisoners. (SPS)

062/SPS/T