Vague d’indignation après l’expulsion de juristes espagnols du Sahara occidental par les autorités d’occupation marocaines
Expulsion of Spanish Jurists in Western Sahara Sparks Outrage
The recent expulsion of a delegation of Spanish jurists from occupied Western Sahara by Moroccan authorities has ignited widespread indignation and concern among human rights organizations, condemning the act as a "flagrant violation of international law."
According to Inès Miranda Navarro, a member of the International Association of Jurists for Western Sahara (AIJUWS), this incident not only undermines the right to freedom of movement but also breaches Geneva conventions. The expulsion underscores a growing trend of repression and lack of transparency in the occupied Sahrawi territories, characterized by movement restrictions and severe human rights violations faced by the Sahrawi people daily.
The Spanish jurists were preparing to investigate human rights conditions when Moroccan authorities barred their arrival in Laâyoune, the capital of the occupied territory. Notably, members of the delegation, including lawyers Dolores Travieso Darias and Flora Moreno Ramos, as well as expert Silvestre Suarez Fernandez, were told to remain on their plane upon arrival without receiving clear explanations. Civilian personnel, presumed to be from Moroccan authorities, enforced the order.
The AIJUWS stated that its missions aim to observe legal developments in the occupied region in collaboration with the General Council of Spanish Bar Associations, primarily to address Spain’s ongoing neglect of Article 73 of the United Nations Charter. Spain is obligated to periodically inform the UN Secretary-General about the socio-economic situation in territories under its administration, an obligation it has failed to fulfill since 1976. Consequently, the AIJUWS has sought to address this informational void since 2002.
The mission aimed to assess the plight of Sahrawi political prisoners in Moroccan jails and to engage with local human rights organizations.
Calls for International Action
The Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders Collective (CODESA) condemned the expulsion, urging the international community to pressure Morocco to lift the military and media blockade on occupied Western Sahara and to facilitate the decolonization process of the area. The collective has reiterated the necessity of an international investigation into the expulsion of international observers, highlighting the pressing need for the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross to hold Morocco accountable for its continued violations of international humanitarian law.
Similarly, the League for the Protection of Sahrawi Prisoners in Moroccan Prisons (LPPS) has expressed grave concern over these practices, emphasizing that they violate international law and undermine UN efforts. The LPPS condemned the expulsion, calling for effective measures from the international community to compel Moroccan authorities to cease escalating violations and ensure human rights protections.
This incident is seen as part of a broader strategy of isolation enforced by Morocco over the region, particularly since 2014, which has previously hindered access to the territory for UN rapporteurs and human rights organizations, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Furthermore, the Sahrawi Association of Victims of Serious Violations Committed by the Moroccan State condemned the expulsion, asserting that Morocco seeks to eliminate witnesses in occupied Sahrawi cities. The Moroccan government continues to deny foreigners access to the territory and restricts meetings with Sahrawis advocating for independence, fearing exposure of the human rights abuses and daily crimes against those with political convictions.
The representative of the Polisario Front in Spain, Abdullah Al-Arabi, labeled the expulsion a "blatant violation of international law." He argued that Morocco’s restrictive measures against human rights defenders, journalists, activists, and political representatives serve to obscure human rights abuses against Sahrawi civilians. Al-Arabi called for Spanish and European institutions to file official complaints against Morocco concerning these actions.
Prevalent Human Rights Abuses
The circumstances surrounding this event reflect ongoing tensions in Western Sahara, a territory with a long history of conflict between Morocco and the Sahrawi people, who seek independence. Evidence indicates systemic violations of human rights, with reports detailing arbitrary detentions, torture, and suppression of peaceful protests against Moroccan rule. The Moroccan government’s attempts to silence dissent have included denying access to international observers, which compounds the Sahrawi plight for autonomy and recognition.
Conclusion
The expulsion of the Spanish jurists from occupied Western Sahara highlights the heightened repression in the region and showcases the ongoing struggle for human rights and self-determination faced by the Sahrawi people. As organizations call for international intervention, the situation serves as a reminder of the complexities and human costs involved in this enduring conflict. The collective efforts of human rights advocates aim to bring global attention to the plight of the Sahrawi and the urgent need for accountability regarding international law violations.
