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.
The family of Saharawi human rights defender and political prisoner Naâma Asfari has expressed deep concern after losing all contact with him. According to a statement issued by the family, they have not heard from Asfari since Monday, and the Moroccan authorities have provided no information about his condition.
Asfari began a hunger strike on 8 June. He is now on the 40th day of his strike and is reported to have lost around 10 kilograms. His family fears that his health is deteriorating rapidly, with the risk of irreversible damage.
According to the family, Asfari is on hunger strike to demand that the Moroccan authorities comply with decisions issued by UN human rights mechanisms. They refer in particular to the UN Committee against Torture's decision in case CAT/C/69/D/606/2014 and the opinion of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD/2023/23). Both call on Morocco to release Asfari, provide him with adequate compensation and fulfil its international human rights obligations.
The family holds the Moroccan authorities, and in particular the prison administration, fully responsible for the alarming situation and any consequences resulting from the ongoing hunger strike. They point out that the authorities have neither responded to Asfari's demands nor ensured that he is able to communicate with his family or his lawyers.
In its statement, the family calls on the Moroccan authorities to immediately disclose information about Asfari's health, restore his contact with his family and legal counsel, and comply with the UN decisions calling for his release.
The family also urges the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Special Procedures, and national and international human rights organisations to intervene urgently to protect Naâma Asfari's life and ensure that his fundamental rights are respected.
The Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara has followed the cases of Naâma Asfari and the other Saharawi human rights defenders serving extremely long prison sentences in Moroccan prisons for many years. Asfari was sentenced to 35 years in prison in 2010.
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