Western Sahara/Morocco: Multiple attacks on the physical integrity of Sahrawi human rights defenders and flagrant violation of the right to peaceful assembly
The period from 24 February to the early morning of 1 March 2025 was marked by a series of attacks by the Moroccan authorities against multiple groups of Sahrawi human rights defenders in the city of Laayoune, violating their physical and psychological integrity and flagrantly denying their right to peaceful assembly. The situation reached its peak on 25 February 2025, when human rights defenders, including President of the Sahrawi Association for Victims of Grave Human Rights Violations Committed by the Moroccan State (ASVDH) Bachri Ben Taleb, were violently dispersed by Moroccan security forces while participating in a peaceful protest. Nonetheless, the heightened acts of prohibition, intimidation and aggression began on 24 February and continued into March.
On Tuesday 25 February 2025, a number of Sahrawi human rights defenders and activists sought to participate in a peaceful protest to mark the 49th anniversary of the proclamation of the Sahrawi Republic, demand the release of Sahrawi prisoners from Moroccan jails, and denounce the illegal visits by the French Minister of Culture and the President of the French Senate to the occupied part of Western Sahara. However, around 6 pm, dozens of Moroccan security forces in plain clothes, led by individuals well-known to Sahrawi human rights defenders for their violent behaviour against them and civilians, violently dispersed the protesters by using excessive force. Among the group were human rights defenders Sidi Mohamed Dadach, Abdelkarim Mbrikat, Essalha Boutanguiza, Mahfouda Bamaba Lefkire, Lahdia Bagna, Hassna Adouihi, Ziou Abdelrahman, Laroussi Lefkire, Oum El Saad Bouriel, Haddhom Frig, Fatimatu Hairash, and Bachri Ben Taleb. Shortly after the peaceful protest commenced, several human rights defenders were chased and violently assaulted.
Prior to the protest, Moroccan security forces imposed strict measures, which included cordoning off the area, closing access streets, and monitoring the homes of Sahrawi human rights defenders throughout the day. Several Sahrawi human rights defenders were subjected to harassment and assaults, including Lahcen Dalil, who was under surveillance for over 48 hours, Maryam Dambri, who suffered a brutal assault in the morning, and Khadija Lachgar, who was pursued and assaulted an hour before the protest began.
On Wednesday 26 February 2025, the Sahrawi Association of Victims of Grave Violations of Human Rights Committed by the Moroccan State (ASVDH) issued a statement on Sahrawi media platforms, accompanied by photos documenting the violations suffered by Sahrawi human rights defenders during their peaceful assembly the previous day.
The homes of several Sahrawi human rights defenders were also blockaded, restricting them from moving freely on 26 and 27 February 2025, according to a report and Facebook posts released by the human rights organisation. This prevented them from visiting the Sahrawi defenders who were victims of the attacks of 25 February 2025, in Laayoune.
On Thursday 27 February 2025, officials from District 16 and Moroccan police officers carried out an assault on the home of human rights defender Ali Salem Tamek in Laayoune. His house was stoned, an attempt was made to break in, and the electricity was cut off at midnight and at 2am, as captured by the home's surveillance cameras. The purpose of the power cuts was to conceal the human rights violations committed by the Moroccan authorities, according to CODESA.
On the night of Saturday 1 March 2025, Ali Salem Tamek’s house was subjected to other attacks by the same perpetrators, where four surveillance cameras installed on the walls of the house were uprooted and confiscated, with the clear aim of eliminating any trace of the crimes committed by the Moroccan authorities. This episode was also an attack against the Sahrawi Collective of Human Rights Defenders (CODESA), as his house additionally acts as the headquarters of the organisation.
In this context, Front Line Defenders expresses its absolute solidarity with Sahrawi human rights defenders and strongly condemns the violations and harassment perpetrated in various forms by Moroccan security forces against them. Front Line Defenders believes this to be a form of intimidation in retaliation for their legitimate and peaceful work in defending human rights.
Front Line Defenders reiterates its call to the Moroccan authorities to stop the violations committed against Sahrawi human rights defenders and respect their right to peacefully advocate for human rights. Additionally, the organisation calls for an immediate and thorough investigation into the violent attacks against Sahrawi human rights defenders before, during, and after the peaceful protest, and hold accountable those responsible for causing harm to individuals and property, with the aim of publishing the findings and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards. Finally, Front Line Defenders reminds the authorities of their responsibility under international law to ensure, in all circumstances, that human rights defenders in Western Sahara can carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of retaliation and without any restrictions.
Front Line Defenders reminds the international community of their obligations under international law concerning Western Saharan human rights defenders, particularly in light of the International Court of Justice’s recognition of Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination, and the African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights’ judgment finding that Morocco's occupation is a violation of the right to self-determination and independence, and calls on any visiting officials to raise the harassment experienced by Sahrawi human rights defenders.
