Spring Protest

On Oct of 2010 the Gdiem Izik protest camp in the Western Sahara was held for 28 days. Saharawi men women and children, protested outside the capital Layyoune against Morocco’s three decade rule and the continued human rights abuses, discrimination and poverty their people faced in the past years. The event was a success because it had drawn over 7000 people wanting independence from Morocco. But in November a month later Moroccan security forces attacked the protest camp without any warning, killing 36 protesters. Many protesters were allegedly tortured and sentenced to life in prison, after a quick trial. In addition to this 21 human rights activists, who took part in the protest, were publically humiliated which included getting urinated upon, drinking their own urine, being stripped naked and in worse cases being raped. Even today despite the hundreds of arrests, incarcerations, injuries, deaths, and countless abuse the Western Sahara is still under Moroccan control. 

 

The Sahrawi people have been recognized as Morocco for many years, they have been waiting for an independence day that likely seems it will never happen due to Morocco’s involvement and also due to the media being in other neighboring countries such as Egypt, Libya, Yemen and Syria. Morocco first took ownership of the Western Sahara in 1975 when the Sahrawi people were no longer a Spanish colony, and morocco saw this as an opportunity to exploit The Western Sahara of their phosphate and their large fishing exporting profits. These are the two main reasons why Morocco has denied any attempt for the Sahrawi people their independence.  

 

The rights to speak freely, express ones beliefs and independence are all taken away if your apart of Western Sahara.These issues have been a problem for the Sahrawi people since 1975 when Morroco took control over their contry.The main conflict the Sahrawi people face is the lack of freedom which is heavily evident due to Morocco. This is shown when the Sahrawi people are not able to speak out their personal beliefs at a harmless protest without being punished by Moroccan authority. Also freedom is stripped by the Sahrawi people because they are being forced to be a part of a country that they don’t want any part of, because Morocco wants to exploit the Western Sahara for their natural resources.