US and UK students detained in El Aaiun
Today, April 19, two students from the U.S. and UK have been detained at a checkpoint in El Aaiun.
Published 19 April 2014
Kristina Nygaard, with U.S. passport, and Joanna Allan, a British citizen, had traveled to occupied Western Sahara to learn more about the concerning situation of the Saharaui population and to gather information on human rights violations and natural resources exploitation in the occupied territory.
In one of the many existing checkpoints at El Aaiun, Kristina Nygaard and Joanna Allan were arrested by the Moroccan police. As declared by the students themselves, they have been told that "they are not welcome" and they will be driven in a car, probably to Agadir.
News
New report: Sahrawi students beaten, isolated and denied medical care in Moroccan prisons
They were beaten with batons until they nearly lost consciousness and threatened with rape if they did not confess. This is the testimony of recently released Sahrawi students in a new report following a decade in Moroccan prisons.
07 September 2026
Family fears for human rights defender after days without contact
The family of Saharawi human rights defender and political prisoner Naâma Asfari says it has had no contact with him since Monday. Asfari is now on the 40th day of his hunger strike, and his family fears for his life and health.
19 July 2026
Trial underway over firebombing of our partner in Denmark
A trial has begun in Copenhagen against four men accused of carrying out the January 2025 arson attack on the offices of our partner Global Aktion.
15 June 2026
Film Festival Silences Saharawi Voices
The Moroccan film festival Dakhla International Film Festival is rapidly deleting critical comments from its social media channels.
08 June 2026