Sahrawi journalists and activists in Western Sahara continue to endure harsh and oppressive conditions due to ongoing security crackdowns by Moroccan authorities. Central to this struggle is the case of journalist Bachir Khada, who has spent over 15 years in Moroccan prisons under arbitrary detention, alongside many journalists who have been falsely charged following the dismantling of the Gdeim Izik camp in November 2010.
Bachir Khada’s Ordeal: Solitary Confinement and Medical Neglect
Human rights defender and journalist Bachir Khada has been held arbitrarily since 2010. He has endured years of harsh solitary confinement amid a severe decline in his mental and physical health. Frequent denial of family visits constitutes a clear violation of international prison standards. Reports indicate that Khada faces daily humiliating treatment by prison authorities, including being shackled during remote university exams — an additional punishment aimed at breaking his spirit.
Despite suffering from severe abdominal pain and fever suspected to be caused by food poisoning, the prison administration has refused to transfer him to an external hospital unless he agrees to wear a criminal inmate uniform, which he refuses as a prisoner of conscience.
Fabricated Charges Against Journalists Following the Gdeim Izik Events
In November 2010, following the dismantling of the protest camp Gdeim Izik, numerous Sahrawi journalists and activists were arbitrarily arrested and subjected to unfair trials on fabricated charges designed to silence voices demanding human rights.
Among them:
• Mohamed Al Ayoubi: Arrested inside the camp, he reported torture and threats aimed at extracting forced confessions.
• Abdallah Toublali: Subjected to physical and psychological torture and coerced into signing documents without reading them.
• Abdallah Lkhfawni: Sentenced to life imprisonment despite being absent from the scene, he endured torture and unfair trial procedures.
These detainees faced grave violations, including denial of access to lawyers, lack of fair defense, and ill-treatment aimed at breaking their resistance and securing false confessions.
International Human Rights Responses
International organizations such as the International Federation for Human Rights, the World Organisation Against Torture, and Human Rights Watch have expressed deep concern about deteriorating detention conditions, torture, and unfair trials faced by Sahrawi journalists and activists. These organizations call for independent, effective investigations and accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses.
The case of Bachir Khada and the Gdeim Izik events reveal a dark reality of human rights violations in Western Sahara, where the Moroccan regime continues to repress and persecute voices demanding freedom and justice. These repressive practices pose a real threat to press freedom and human rights, requiring coordinated international efforts to ensure the protection of Sahrawi detainees and the establishment of a safe environment for free journalism.
