Moroccan Prison Authorities Accused of Retaliatory Measures Against Sahrawi Detainees
Moroccan prison authorities have reportedly escalated measures against Sahrawi detainees at Kenitra Central Prison following a protest organized by their families outside the General Delegation for Prison Administration and Reintegration in Rabat.
According to the Sahrawi Press Service, prison officials referred Sahrawi civilian detainees Hassan Dah and Ahmed Sbai to a disciplinary council. Human rights groups fear the procedure could result in sanctions, including solitary confinement, which they describe as retaliatory punishment intended to silence complaints about detention conditions.
The League for the Protection of Sahrawi Prisoners said the action followed the detainees’ refusal to undergo what they considered a humiliating search. They also protested against their treatment while being transferred to sit university examinations. The organization argued that the incident violated their rights to dignity and education.
The reported measures come amid an open-ended hunger strike by Sahrawi detainee Naama Asfari, who is protesting his detention conditions. His case has increased concern among Sahrawi organizations and international supporters over the treatment of political detainees in Moroccan prisons.
The families of Dah and Sbai held Moroccan authorities fully responsible for their safety. They said the timing of the disciplinary proceedings, shortly after the family demonstration, indicated an attempt to intimidate both prisoners and relatives seeking to defend their rights.
The families urged international organizations and United Nations human rights mechanisms to intervene, investigate prison conditions and provide protection for Sahrawi detainees. They also renewed calls for the immediate and unconditional release of prisoners they regard as detainees of conscience.
Human rights advocates say the latest developments have renewed scrutiny of Morocco’s treatment of Sahrawi prisoners. They continue to demand respect for fundamental rights, an end to punitive measures, independent monitoring of detention facilities and stronger international action concerning Western Sahara and its unresolved right to self-determination by relevant international bodies.
