THE MOROCCAN OCCUPATION CONTINUES ITS GRAVE VIOLATIONS AND SYSTEMATIC TARGETING OF SAHRAWI CIVILIANS
WASHINGTON, DC, December 9, 2025
Press Release: Western Sahara Solidarity Committee
El-Aaiún (Occupied Western Sahara)—December 9, 2025
The Moroccan occupation forces persist in committing severe and systematic violations against Sahrawi civilians, in blatant defiance of all their international obligations regarding human rights and international humanitarian law. Instead of respecting the rights of the Saharawi people and ensuring their safety and dignity, Moroccan security forces continue to escalate repressive and restrictive policies, particularly through the systematic targeting of Sahrawi human rights defenders, journalists, and peaceful activists.
In the context of celebrating International Human Rights Day, the occupied part of Western Sahara witnessed a new violation that reflects the level of escalation. The home of Lahcen Dalil, president of the Association for Monitoring Resources and Protecting the Environment in Western Sahara (AREN), was subjected to close surveillance and a house siege by Moroccan occupation police. The area was surrounded by Moroccan police vehicles in both military and civilian uniforms, along with a group of plainclothes agents led by individuals known as “Mohsen Sargini” and “Younes Brada,” nicknamed “Ould Touhima.” This siege created a state of terror within the family of the association’s president, especially his young children, in a flagrant violation of the most basic standards of human rights and relevant international conventions.
Deteriorating Human Rights Situation in Western Sahara
The continuous deterioration of the human rights situation in Western Sahara reflects the absence of any political will on the part of the Moroccan occupying state to respect its international obligations and underscores the urgent need for immediate intervention by the international community. The continuation of these arbitrary policies constitutes a clear breach of all standards outlined in international agreements, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention Against Torture.
