le parti espagnol Sumar exprime son opposition à la candidature marocaine
Summary of Sumar’s Opposition to Amina Bouayach’s Nomination for the Nelson Mandela Prize
On Saturday, the Spanish left-wing party Sumar publicly expressed its strong opposition to Morocco’s Amina Bouayach being nominated for the United Nations Nelson Mandela Prize. They argue that granting this nomination would represent an "infamous dishonor" to Mandela’s legacy as a human rights advocate.
In a letter addressed to the Nelson Mandela Prize committee, Sumar’s representatives urged the committee to reject Bouayach’s nomination. They emphasized that the prize should reflect Mandela’s unwavering commitment to human rights, freedom, and the defense of the oppressed. They criticized Bouayach for her leadership of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) in Morocco, alleging that she has failed to advocate effectively for victims of severe human rights violations, particularly the Sahrawi political prisoners of the Gdeim Izik group.
These prisoners have reportedly claimed to experience torture, abuse, and prolonged arbitrary detention. Sumar pointed out that the CNDH has not acted to protect their rights or address these violations, instead releasing statements that appear to endorse processes largely condemned by international observers. They highlighted that the United Nations Committee Against Torture has recognized instances of torture in Morocco and called for the country to provide reparations to victims, a demand that Morocco has reportedly disregarded.
Moreover, they remarked on the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which has deemed the detention of Gdeim Izik leaders to be arbitrary and a violation of international law. The ongoing silence from the CNDH, and its sometimes implicit support for these violations, contradicts the moral authority associated with the Nelson Mandela Prize. Sumar’s deputies reiterated that Mandela championed truth, justice, and the dignity of political prisoners.
In their view, associating Mandela’s name with an institution and individuals that have not responded to documented and internationally acknowledged violations of rights would be a profound dishonor to his enduring legacy.
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On Saturday, the Spanish left-wing party, Sumar, articulated its staunch opposition to Amina Bouayach’s candidacy for the Nelson Mandela Prize awarded by the United Nations, declaring that awarding the prize to her would constitute an "infamous dishonor" to the legacy of the renowned human rights activist.
In a letter directed at the members of the Nelson Mandela Prize committee, Sumar’s parliamentarians conveyed their strong dissent regarding Bouayach’s potential recognition as the laureate for 2025. They insisted that the committee ought to "reject this nomination" to ensure that the prize remains a beacon of Mandela’s steadfast dedication to human rights, liberty, and the defense of marginalized populations.
The deputies asserted that Bouayach, in her role as head of Morocco’s National Human Rights Council (CNDH), has notably failed to advocate for victims of serious human rights abuses, specifically regarding the Sahrawi political prisoners associated with the Gdeim Izik group. They reported that these captives have claimed to endure torture, mistreatment, and arbitrary prolonged detention without just cause.
Despite numerous appeals and complaints, Sumar stated that the CNDH has been inactive in safeguarding the rights of these victims or rectifying the severe violations they have faced. Instead, they asserted that the council issued statements that seemingly validated processes condemned by international human rights observers. The deputies pointed out that several instances of alleged torture have been reported to the United Nations Committee Against Torture, which recognized these practices and urged Morocco to deliver reparations to the affected individuals.
"Morocco has openly disdained these decisions," they lamented, emphasizing that the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has labeled the imprisonment of Gdeim Izik and other Sahrawi political leaders as "arbitrary" and contradictory to international law.
The continued silence from the CNDH, coupled with its tacit endorsement of such practices, stands in stark contrast to the esteemed moral stature of the Nelson Mandela Prize, the representatives contended. They underscored that Nelson Mandela was an unwavering advocate for truth, justice, and the dignity of political prisoners.
In the eyes of Sumar’s parliamentarians, linking Nelson Mandela to an institution or leaders that have failed to confront documented and widely acknowledged instances of human rights violations would indeed be a "deeply shameful dishonor" to his invaluable legacy.
