Occupied El Aaiún, October 1, 2026 (SPS)- The Sahrawi Prisoners’ Protection Association in Moroccan Prisons has documented serious violations and escalating punitive measures against members of the Gdeim Izik prisoner group following their open-ended hunger strike from September 23 to 30.
In a detailed report, the Association said Moroccan prison authorities responded to the prisoners’ demands for their reunification in a single facility in the occupied territories of Western Sahara and respect for their internationally guaranteed rights with a series of punitive and retaliatory measures.
The report documented arbitrary transfers and the disappearance of several prisoners from contact with their families, including Naâma Asfari, who was transferred to Oudaya Prison in Marrakesh on September 23 without prior notification to his family; Bashir Khada, transferred from Tiflet 2 Prison on September 24 and later confirmed to have been moved to the occupied city of El Aaiún; and Hassan Dah, whose whereabouts remained unknown until September 30 amid reports of ill-treatment during his transfer.
The Association said seven prisoners — Ahmed Sebai, El Hussein Zaoui, Mohamed Bachir Boutenkiza, Mohamed Lamin Haddi, Abdallah Bahah, Hassan Dah and Naâma Asfari — continue their hunger strike, while Mohamed Bani was forced to suspend his strike on September 26 after a severe deterioration in his health and transfer to the medical unit of Ait Melloul 2 Prison.
It further reported that telephone communication with hunger-striking prisoners had been cut and that families of several prisoners were prevented from visiting them despite travelling more than 1,200 kilometres to reach Kenitra Prison.
The Association called on the international community and human rights organizations to urgently intervene to clarify the whereabouts of prisoners whose fate remains unknown, ensure adequate medical care for those on hunger strike, and investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment.
It also urged action to ensure Morocco’s compliance with relevant UN mechanisms’ recommendations concerning the Gdeim Izik prisoners.
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