The Moroccan occupation authorities “violently” attack Sahrawi demonstrators

Occupied Laayoune, September 4, 2023 (SPS) - The Moroccan occupation authorities attacked on Monday evening a peaceful protest organized by the Sahrawi masses on Smara Street in the occupied city of Laayoune, coinciding with the visit of the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Staffan de Mistura, according to what Sahrawi human rights sources reported.

According to what was reported by the same sources, the Moroccan occupation authorities used excessive force to disperse the demonstrators and prevented them from exercising their right to expression and peaceful demonstration to demand the departure of the Moroccan occupation and the necessity of the Sahrawi people exercising their legitimate right to freedom, self-determination, and independence

This intervention caused injuries of varying severity among the Sahrawi citizens, and they were chased in various streets and alleys of the city and verbally assaulted by using expressions of racism, malice, and hatred.

In the same context, Moroccan repressive forces attacked the Sahrawi activist and political detainee Mahfouda Bamba Lafkir on Smara Street in the occupied city of Laayoune while she was participating in the demonstration, where she distributed leaflets in support of the Polisario Front and raised national flags.

During the demonstration, the Moroccan occupation forces intervened violently against the Sahrawi demonstrators. They beat and dragged women, and a number of demonstrators got various injuries. As for Mahfouda Bamba Lafkir, she was severely beaten until she fainted and was transferred to the so-called Ben Mahdi Hospital.

SPS 110/T