sahararepublic – Occupied Laayoune
February 20, 2025
The Moroccan occupation authorities prevented three Members of the European Parliament from disembarking from their flight upon arrival in the occupied city of Laayoune, Western Sahara, from Las Palmas Airport this Thursday afternoon. The MPs include:
- Isabel Serra Sánchez: Member of the Spanish political party Podemos.
- Jussi Antero Saramo: Member of the Left Alliance from Finland.
- Catarina Martins: Member of the Left Bloc from Portugal.
Jussi Saramo is one of Finland’s prominent politicians, having served as Acting Minister of Education and held executive positions in renowned Finnish institutions such as Vikosa and Kiva.
Isabel Serra Sánchez is a leading Spanish political activist. She was a member of the Podemos parliamentary group in Madrid from 2015 to 2021. Holding a degree in philosophy and a master’s in economics, she actively participated in the student movement against the Bologna Process and co-founded the group Youth Without a Future (Juventud Sin Futuro). She joined Podemos upon its foundation in 2014 and was elected to the Madrid Assembly in 2015.
Catarina Martins is a prominent Portuguese politician and actress. She served as the National Coordinator of the Left Bloc from November 2012 to May 2023 and has been a member of the Portuguese Parliament since 2009. She was elected to the European Parliament in the 2024 elections and has extensive experience in political activism and advocacy.
The European delegation traveled to Laayoune on a fact-finding mission to assess Morocco’s compliance with the recent ruling of the European Court of Justice, which annulled EU-Morocco agricultural and fisheries agreements for violating international law, particularly the requirement for consultation and consent from the Sahrawi people.
The delegation planned to conduct field visits to investigate human rights violations, meet with the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), and engage with human rights organizations operating in the occupied territories.
The European MPs emphasized that their mission adhered to the protocol on privileges and immunities of the European Union, which mandates full cooperation from authorities with EU representatives, especially in sensitive matters concerning human rights and compliance with international resolutions, including those of the United Nations and European Court rulings.
This incident comes amid escalating tensions over Western Sahara, as Moroccan occupation authorities continue to impose restrictions on international visits to the region. The move has drawn international criticism over human rights violations and Morocco’s disregard for international legality.
