The Moroccan Association for Human Rights raised concerns over the health of Naama Asfari, who began his strike on 8 June [Getty]
A Moroccan rights group has raised concerns over the health of a jailed Western Sahara independence activist, who has reportedly been on hunger strike for more than 40 days demanding his freedom.
The Moroccan Association for Human Rights was following with “great concern” the situation of Naama Asfari who began his strike on 8 June, the group said in a statement on Tuesday night.
“The family is very worried about the complete lack of information regarding his health and current location.”
Prison authorities did not immediately respond to AFP’s request for comment.
The prison administration said earlier this month that Asfari was being monitored under procedures for inmates on hunger strike and described his condition as “normal”.
Asfari is serving a 30-year sentence after being convicted of charges including criminal conspiracy and involvement in intentional killings, according to his defence team.
He was among 23 Sahrawi activists convicted over the deaths of 11 Moroccan security personnel during clashes in 2010 after authorities dismantled the Gdim Izik protest camp near Laayoune, the largest city in disputed Western Sahara.
The group was first tried by a military court in 2013, then by a civilian court in 2017.
International rights groups had criticised the proceedings as unfair, a claim rejected by Moroccan authorities.
Western Sahara, a mineral-rich former Spanish colony, has been largely controlled by Morocco since 1975. It is considered a non-self-governing territory by the United Nations.
Morocco has long been in conflict with the Algerian-backed Polisario Front, which seeks independence for the Sahrawi people.
