In a concerning development from Paris, on July 9, 2026, the French Association of Friends of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (AARASD) has publicly voiced its alarm regarding the critical health status of Sahrawi political prisoner Naâma Asfari. Currently incarcerated at Kenitra Prison in Morocco, Asfari has been engaged in an indefinite hunger strike since June 8, which he characterizes as a "hunger strike for dignity." This action is a protest against the Moroccan authorities' disregard for the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention's Opinion No. 23/2023, which calls for the immediate release of members from the Gdeim Izik group of Sahrawi political prisoners.
The AARASD's statement highlights that Asfari has now entered the fifth week of his protest, which underscores his commitment to seeking justice for himself and his fellow detainees. Asfari is not only demanding their release but is also advocating for their transfer to El Aaiún Prison, which would allow them to be nearer to their families during this challenging period. The association has raised alarms about Asfari's severe weight loss and overall health deterioration, emphasizing the urgent need for intervention as his condition becomes increasingly precarious.
Moreover, AARASD criticized the silence from Morocco's General Delegation for Prison Administration, particularly in light of the prolonged nature of Asfari's hunger strike. The group pointed out that for many Sahrawi political prisoners, hunger strikes have become one of the few avenues available to voice their grievances regarding their treatment and to demand the respect and recognition of their fundamental human rights.
In a direct appeal to French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, AARASD urged the French government to take action by engaging with Moroccan authorities to address the pressing demands of Naâma Asfari and his fellow Gdeim Izik prisoners. The association reiterated the troubling history of these prisoners, who have received lengthy sentences following trials criticized as unjust by various international organizations. Furthermore, the United Nations Committee against Torture (CAT) has condemned Morocco for its use of torture and for relying on confessions obtained through coercive methods from individuals within this group, including Asfari. The recent reaffirmation of concerns regarding systemic torture and the urgent need for the release of these prisoners underscores the necessity for immediate international attention and intervention.
As reported by spsrasd.info.
