Morocco reiterates calls by international right NGOs for a halt of violations in Tindouf camps

Morocco welcomed the actions taken by international rights watchdogs with regard to the blatant violations committed in the Algerian territory by the Polisario militia.

Spokesman for the government said that rights violations in the Polisario-administered Tindouf camps are now an international concern.

Human Rights Watch issued three days ago a scathing report denouncing the crackdown on dissidents by the Polisario administration, which has detained three critics.

The three men are Moulay Abba Bouzid and Fadel Mohamed Breica, both activists, and Mahmoud Zeidan, a journalist who have been forcibly detained since June 17 , 2019.

Bouzid commented sarcastically about the lack of freedom of opinion and speech in Rabouni camp, a week after he denounced he “tyranny and dictatorship” of the Polisario’s leadership, Human Rights Watch said.

Zeidan, for his part, criticized the “absence of dialogue” and the “lack of alternatives to repression” in the camps, while Breica wrote that the Polisario’s “corrupt leadership” was “trembling [in reaction] to what is happening to their masters in Algeria,” a reference to the wave of street protests that forced the resignation of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

“Algeria cannot subcontract the protection of human rights on its territory and turn a blind eye if the Polisario violates them,” said Lama Fakih, acting Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch.