On 1 February, Morocco was due to finally put on trial 23 Sahrawis arrested when Moroccan security forces destroyed the Gadaym Izik protest camp (the forerunner to the more celebrated Arab Spring uprisings) in November 2010.
The 23 Sahrawis have carried out four hunger strikes to bring attention to the brutal treatment they have received in prison, and to the fact that despite being civilians they are facing trial in a military court.
Western Sahara has been illegally occupied by Morocco since 1975.
Danish NGO Africa Contact is attempting to put pressure on Conservative MEP Charles Tannock to speak out for Sahrawi human rights in his new role as ‘special rapporteur of the European parliament for human rights in Western Sahara’.
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Topics: Western Sahara