Geneva – Sahrawi human rights activist, Ghaliya Abdallah Adjmimi, has strongly condemned Morocco’s systematic use of the Pegasus spyware to monitor and intimidate journalists and activists in occupied Western Sahara. This revelation was reported by the Sahrawi Press Agency (SPS) on Wednesday.
Speaking at the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, which began on February 24 and runs until April 4, Adjmimi denounced Morocco’s exploitation of advanced surveillance technology to violate the rights of human rights defenders and restrict fundamental freedoms, particularly targeting women who face systematic defamation and intimidation campaigns.
She stressed that this surveillance is not isolated but rather part of a wider strategy to silence free voices in occupied Western Sahara.
Call for an International Investigation
Adjmimi urged the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Privacy to launch a comprehensive investigation into the use of Pegasus spyware in occupied Western Sahara and other regions. She emphasized that using spyware to monitor dissidents constitutes a serious violation of international law.
Appeal to the International Community
In conclusion, the Sahrawi activist called on the international community, civil society organizations in Europe and America, and the African Union to take urgent action to protect privacy rights, freedom of expression, and human rights defenders in occupied Western Sahara. She demanded an end to Morocco’s repressive tactics, which pose a grave threat to those advocating for human rights in the region.
Nor El Islam – DZWatch.DZ
