In a serious development reflecting the deteriorating state of freedoms and human rights in the occupied territories, the journalist and web developer of sahararepublic.com, Mr. M. H., was subjected to two severe attacks within one week, amid complete disregard by Moroccan authorities.
On April 8, 2025, Mr. M. H. narrowly survived a deliberate hit-and-run attempt by an unregistered Honda Suzuki Super Carry vehicle—an incident that sparked concern and outrage. Despite immediate contact with the police and Moroccan authorities, no serious measures were taken; the incident was merely noted on a blank sheet of paper, with no official investigation or protective action initiated.
Then, on April 15, 2025, a second attack occurred when Mr. M. H.’s residence was broken into, resulting in a burglary and act of vandalism. The intruders stole a Samsung smartphone and a large HP desktop computer, which contained sensitive media materials and documentation related to human rights violations in Western Sahara.
Additionally, the assailants vandalized a laptop, removing its internal hard drive and rendering it unusable. A separate computer screen of the brand Accent was shattered and destroyed, further demonstrating the clear intent to erase data and cripple the technical capacity of the journalist.
These recurring attacks clearly represent an attempt to silence free voices that document and expose the practices of the Moroccan occupation in the Sahrawi territories. They also reflect a dangerous escalation in authoritarian tactics being used to intimidate journalists and human rights defenders.
At sahararepublic.com, we affirm that such attacks will not deter us from pursuing our media and human rights mission. We remain committed to being a reliable source for documenting violations, a voice for the voiceless, and a lens exposing the truth.
Urgent Appeal to International Human Rights and Media Organizations
We urgently call upon:
International human rights organizations
Independent media institutions
Entities advocating for press freedom
To take immediate action by:
Condemning these repressive practices targeting journalists in Western Sahara
Exerting international pressure on the Moroccan occupation to respect freedom of expression and press
Launching an independent international investigation into the targeted attacks on journalists and media personnel
Our Message to the Moroccan Occupation
No matter how intense the repression becomes, no matter how varied the tactics of intimidation—you will not silence the voice of truth.
sahararepublic.com will remain a free and resilient platform, documenting, informing, and bringing the suffering of an entire people to the world.
