West-Sahara

Since May 10, 2024, the Moroccan occupation forces have besieged the residence of the human rights defender and former Sahrawi prisoner of conscience, Ali Salem Tamek, who is the president of the Collective of Sahrawi Human Rights Defenders in Western Sahara.

This action was in response to an attempt by a group of female activists from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el-Hamra and Rio de Oro to celebrate the 51st anniversary of the founding of the Polisario Front.

The siege targeted Tamek’s residence, located in the Al-Mustaqbal neighborhood of the occupied city of Laayoune, and was carried out by a contingent of police officers and officials from various civilian and military divisions of the Moroccan occupation forces. They maintained surveillance and continued the siege of the residence even after the departure of the Sahrawi celebrants.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmOwZnJcO5Q

In a related incident, on May 13, 2024, the Moroccan occupation forces prevented the family of Sahrawi human rights defender Hussain Moujahid from constructing a reception hall to welcome guests for the naming ceremony of his daughter, Soumaya Moujahid. This residence is in the same building where human rights defender Ali Salem Tamek resides.

The siege of the building where the residence of Sahrawi human rights defender Ali Salem Tamek is located coincided with his absence, as he has been on a visit for over two weeks, engaged in his human rights activities and advocacy for the rights of the Sahrawi people to self-determination. This visit led him to the Sahrawi refugee camps, accompanied by a group of Sahrawi human rights defenders, both men and women.

The Occupied Laayoune: May 15, 2024

The Executive Office of the Collective of Sahrawi Human Rights

Defenders in Western Sahara

(CODESA)