Yesterday I had the honor to host a discussion with the remarkable #Saharawi Human Rights activist @Sultanakhayya1. Here is what we learned from her (1)
Sultana has been subject to daily violence and unimaginable horror for her fight for the freedom of Moroccan-occupied territories of Western Sahara by the authorities. She even lost an eye when attacked by a officer in 2007. (2)
Last year she was kept under house arrest for 558 days in Boujdour. Moroccan police blocked access to the house, preventing family from leaving or delivering vital provision. Any time Sultana tried to leave, she was physically attacked by officers. (3)
In May 2021, the house was raided by Moroccan authorities twice within 48 hours. During the second raid on 12 May 2021, Sultana and her sister, woman human rights defender Luara Khaya, were reportedly both physically and sexually assaulted by masked officers. (4)
Nonetheless, Sultana Khaya continued raising the flag of Western Sahara on her roof every evening to make a statement: She will not be suppressed in her struggle for the freedom of the Sahrawi population and Western Sahara. (5)
Sultanas fight needs to be seen and gain even more attention to the decades-long conflict in #WesternSahara. In the current light of #Morroccogate - this topic seems even more pressing. Europe has a special responsibility to support the fight for human rights in this region. (6)
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