Agadir, Morocco – A Moroccan court has sentenced two Sahrawi students to prison terms, a decision that has ignited controversy and accusations of political persecution. The Agadir Court of First Instance delivered its verdict on Wednesday evening, finding Mohamed Ibrahim Babait and Salah Eddine Sabbar guilty and imposing sentences of eight months imprisonment each, along with fines.
The sentences have been met with strong condemnation from human rights groups and pro-Sahrawi independence activists. They allege that the charges and subsequent convictions are politically motivated, aimed at silencing dissent and suppressing advocacy for self-determination in Western Sahara. The activists claim the students are being punished for their involvement in peaceful protests and their vocal support for the Sahrawi people’s right to decide their own future.
Mohamed Ibrahim Babait and Salah Eddine Sabbar were arrested earlier this year following demonstrations in Agadir. While the specific charges against them remain somewhat unclear, sources indicate they relate to public order offenses and alleged disruption of public activities. However, supporters maintain that these charges are fabricated and designed to discredit the students’ activism.
The situation in Western Sahara remains a sensitive and contested issue. Morocco claims sovereignty over the territory, while the Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, seeks independence for the Sahrawi people. The United Nations has long been involved in efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict, including through a planned referendum on self-determination that has yet to be held.
This latest sentencing is likely to further inflame tensions in the region and draw renewed international attention to the human rights situation in Western Sahara. DZWatch will continue to follow this developing story and provide updates as they become available.
