Sahrawi activist and political prisoner Naâma Asfari suspended his open-ended hunger strike two days ago after 47 days of protest, following dialogue with Moroccan prison authorities, his family announced.
Incarcerated at Kenitra Central Prison, Naâma Asfari contacted his family by phone on the evening of Friday, July 24, to inform them of his decision.
According to his family, Moroccan prison authorities agreed to open discussions aimed at addressing his humanitarian and legitimate demands regarding his detention conditions and those of his fellow prisoners.
The same source indicated that specifics regarding commitments made by Moroccan authorities will be released tomorrow following another scheduled phone call with the detainee. Due to a severe health decline caused by the prolonged fast, Asfari was unable to provide additional details, his family noted.
Following the announcement, the League for the Protection of Sahrawi Prisoners in Moroccan Prisons (LPPS) expressed “relief” over the suspension of activist Naâma Asfari’s hunger strike. The organization characterized the development as a “fresh victory for the Sahrawi cause,” while pledging to maintain pressure on the Moroccan prison administration.
The LPPS also commended international support, expressing satisfaction regarding the preservation of the inmate’s physical integrity amid a “severely deteriorated” state of health, while praising the resilience of political prisoners and the broad wave of popular solidarity.
“This milestone serves as further proof that rights are secured through willpower, struggle, and solidarity,” the LPPS stated in an official release.
Meanwhile, Claude Mangin, wife of political prisoner Naâma Asfari, called on Moroccan authorities to implement decisions issued by United Nations mechanisms regarding her husband and all political prisoners belonging to the Gdeim Izik group. She also demanded the immediate restoration of a communication link with him on the 47th day of his open-ended hunger strike.
Ms. Mangin noted that Naâma Asfari initiated his open-ended hunger strike on June 6 to demand the enforcement of UN rulings concerning himself and all Gdeim Izik detainees.
She recalled that in 2023, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded that the imprisonment of the Gdeim Izik group members was arbitrary and called for their release. She further highlighted that the United Nations Committee Against Torture adopted multiple rulings between 2016 and 2026 concerning Naâma Asfari and other Sahrawi inmates, urging respect for their rights in accordance with the Kingdom of Morocco’s international commitments.
Ms. Mangin issued an urgent appeal to Moroccan authorities to honor their international law obligations, implement the recommendations and decisions of relevant UN bodies, and restore a direct line of communication with the inmate without delay.