WASHINGTON, D.C./Boujdour, Western Sahara, May 27th, 2022 — Amnesty International released a report today, Morocco/Western Sahara: Moroccan authorities assault Sahrawi women activists, about the latest attacks against indigenous peoples in Western Sahara by Moroccan Occupation Forces.  

Tuesday, May 24th, a human rights delegation of three U.S.-based women was denied entry into Boujdour, Western Sahara by MOF members in Laayoune, Western Sahara who refused to identify themselves and would not state the reason for their deportation.  All requests by the delegation members for a written document stating the reasons for their detention, forcible placement on a Royal Air Maroc flight, and deportation to Morocco went unanswered.

Delegation member Adrienne Kinne said, “The Amnesty International report clearly shows why Morocco prevented us from visiting our friends in Boujdour. They can’t permit anyone to witness the human rights violations they perpetrate in Western Sahara. It is their dirty secret that must be kept hidden.”

The delegate members joined Saharawi activists and others in front of the White demanding accountability for the brutal treatment of prominent Saharawi Human Rights Defender, Sultana Khaya, her family, and the Boujdour community by MOF.  

For more information refer to the Amnesty International report and these websites: justvisitwesternsahara.org, nonviolenceinternational.net  

Just Visit Western Sahara (JVWS) is a network of groups and individuals committed to peace and justice, protection of human rights, and respect for international law, all of which have been denied to the Saharawi people, JVWS further encourages Americans and international travelers to witness the beauty and appeal of Western Sahara and to see the reality of the Moroccan occupation for themselves.