Moroccan authorities expelled human rights defenders Ahmed Ettanji and Mohamed Mayara from Cape Bojador on October 9, 2024. They faced intimidation and harassment from local police during a family visit, highlighting ongoing suppression of Sahrawi rights advocacy. Their organizations work to document human rights violations in the region, and their recent expulsion showcases the risks faced by advocates in Western Sahara.
On the 9th of October 2024, in the sun-soaked town of Cape Bojador, Moroccan authorities unleashed a storm of intimidation against human rights defenders Ahmed Ettanji and Mohamed Mayara, forcing their expulsion during a family visit. The pair, stalwart advocates for Sahrawi rights, found themselves besieged upon arrival, where the local police and fearsome auxiliary forces surrounded their host’s home, unleashing threats of arrest and coercive demands for immediate departure. Ahmed Ettanji, the president of Équipe Média, alongside Mohamed Mayara, a co-founder of the Sahrawi Association of Victims of Serious Human Rights Violations, has long stood against the backdrop of oppression in occupied Western Sahara. Their mission—to document abuses and amplify the voices of the Sahrawi people—makes them prime targets for a regime that silences dissent. When the defenders attempted to visit their family, they were quickly met with hostility at a local checkpoint, marking the beginning of a disheartening encounter. The Moroccan authorities, keen on suppressing any form of dissent, escalated their tactics, threatening not only the defenders but also intimidating their host family, insisting on a swift departure under duress. This disturbing event is not an aberration but rather part of a larger pattern of systematic harassment against human rights defenders in Western Sahara, a land mired in decades of conflict and human rights abuses under Moroccan control. Front Line Defenders has condemned this latest act, asserting that the targeting of Ettanji and Mayara is a direct consequence of their tireless commitment to exposing human rights violations in the region. They called upon Morocco to adhere to its international obligations regarding human rights, emphasizing that all human rights defenders should operate without threat or fear of retribution. The saga of these defenders paints a haunting image of resilience amidst adversity. As they were forced back to their city of Laayoune, the echoes of their struggle resonate far beyond the borders of Western Sahara, illuminating the ongoing plight of the Sahrawi people and the need for unwavering support in the global fight for human rights.
The situation in Western Sahara is fraught with challenges stemming from decades of occupation and suppression of Sahrawi identity and rights. For decades, the Moroccan government has faced accusations of human rights violations against the Sahrawi population, including censorship and violence against those documenting these abuses. Human rights defenders, like Ahmed Ettanji and Mohamed Mayara, have emerged as key figures in the quest for truth and justice, often putting their safety on the line to bring global attention to these ongoing struggles. Their work is crucial in navigating a media landscape heavily controlled by the Moroccan authorities, thus their harassment is not a mere coincidence but a reflection of the ongoing oppression in the region.
The expulsion of Ahmed Ettanji and Mohamed Mayara underscores the perilous plight faced by human rights defenders in occupied Western Sahara. Their experience serves as a reminder of the ongoing tension and repression in the region, reflecting a broader campaign against those advocating for Sahrawi rights. As international attention remains crucial, the call for Moroccan authorities to ensure the safety of human rights defenders is more vital than ever, championing the hope for a future where advocacy can thrive free from fear.
Original Source: www.frontlinedefenders.org
