Kenitra (Morocco), April 30, 2026 (SPS) – Sahrawi civilian prisoner Naâma Asfari, a member of the Gdeim Izik group, began Thursday a warning hunger strike.
The League for the Protection of Sahrawi Prisoners in Moroccan Prisons received a statement from the prisoner’s family, confirming that the warning strike, followed by an open-ended hunger strike, comes in response to the prolonged silence and systematic indifference that has persisted for three years. They noted that the Moroccan government and authorities have taken no action since the issuance of the historic opinion by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in April 2023.
The family added that the open-ended hunger strike has become a necessity and a duty to confront what they describe as the injustice and illegality of the detention of the Gdeim Izik group, and to draw the attention of the international community—particularly the United Nations and its relevant mechanisms—to the case. It also aims to remind the Moroccan authorities of their legal responsibility to implement the recommendations and measures requested by the Working Group.
The League declared its unconditional solidarity with Naâma Asfari, affirming its full support for his legitimate demands and those of his fellow prisoners in Moroccan jails. The organization also stated its intention to closely monitor this protest action, especially given the potential risks to the prisoner’s health, and confirmed that it remains in constant contact with his family to support them and keep them informed of all developments.
