North Africa: Western Saharan Hunger Strikers - Morocco's Territorial and Human Rights Violations

15 April 2010
analysis

Morocco's latest human rights violations yet again display its characteristic contribution to the Western Sahara conflict. These insights show the extremes to which Morocco exercises its 'tools of persuasion'.

36 Saharawi human rights defenders across seven Moroccan jails are on hunger strike as political prisoners of conscience. The wave of hunger strikes began on 18 March, with the first group now reaching their 26th day, and are reported as suffering desperately critical symptoms of medical deterioration.[1] International observers and local NGOs monitoring the hunger strikes are warning of the risk of an imminent humanitarian tragedy and an urgent need to intervene for the immediate release of the Saharawi prisoners. Fears about their critical medical conditions suggest they are nearing irreversible deterioration that could result in death, exacerbated by chronic illnesses resulting from previous years of incarceration and beatings in these Moroccan prisons.

...

AllAfrica publishes around 400 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.