Over 50 demonstrators gathered today outside the Moroccan Embassy in London to protest against this week’s killings in Western Sahara

Campaigners delivered a letter to the Moroccan ambassador expressing “grave concern for the disproportionate use of force” used on Monday by Moroccan forces to remove a protest camp that had sprung up just outside the Western Saharan city of El Aaioun.

There are reports of 11 dead, 723 injured and 159 missing as Moroccan security removed approximately 20,000 Saharawi protesters from the makeshift protest camp where they had been living for a month, protesting at conditions under the Moroccan occupation.

John Hilary, Director of War on Want said today:

“We are horrified by the news of violence and human rights violations in Western Sahara this week. We condemn the attack on the protest camp and we call for international inquiry into the unacceptable loss of life”.


Jeremy Corybn MP who this week raised the issue in the House said today:

“Members of the House are very concerned about these killings. I personally raised the matter during Foreign Secretary's question time on Wednesday and an Early Day Motion condemning the action is gathering support. What was witnessed this week was not a one off act of brutality, but the latest in a catalogue of abuses suffered by the people of Western Sahara for more than three decades as they seek their right to self determination which is enshrined in international law.”


Natalie Sharples of the Western Sahara Campaign UK speaking at the demonstration said:

Immediate action must be taken to stop this violence. It is a disgrace that the UN mission in Western Sahara remains the only contemporary peacekeeping mission without a mandate to monitor human rights. The UN Security Council must rectify this immediately to help prevent further tragedy


The demonstration took place from – 1pm - 2pm outside the Moroccan embassy , 49 Queen’s Gate Garden London, SW7 5NE



PHOTOS BY STEVE FRANCK

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