Western Sahara

News in Brief

The Moroccan police have refused to allow an autopsy to determine the cause of death (in custody) of Brahim Saika, an activist in occupied Western Sahara, who died in hospital on 15 April.

Brahim was arrested on 1 April after organising demonstrations and hunger strikes by unemployed Sahrawi against Morocco’s state-owned phosphate company OCP.

OCP took over Western Sahara’s phosphate mine after Morocco invaded and occupied the territory in 1975 – Sahrawis have been systematically excluded from employment.

Brahim was tortured by police after his arrest, and went on hunger strike. He somehow slipped into a coma within days, before dying.