Transitioning from Executioner to Global Human Rights Leadership: Unveiling the Makhzenian Delirium
BY: Hana Saada
ALGIERS- Morocco’s bid for the presidency of the UN Human Rights Council is not only audacious but also deeply offensive to the international community. By seeking to take control of this influential UN body, Morocco aims to divert attention from its own human rights violations.
Morocco’s relentless pursuit of this prestigious position is perplexing, given the country’s internal challenges and the international scrutiny it faces. The Moroccan government’s disproportionate ambition seems to be driven by a desire to deflect attention away from its own human rights record, which is marred by widespread poverty, political repression, and social marginalization. These issues are exacerbated by a dictatorial regime that stifles political expression and perpetuates the dominance of a privileged financial, economic, and political elite known as the Makhzen.
Rather than confronting its own shortcomings, Morocco seeks to distance itself from its domestic situation by projecting an image of authority and responsibility on the global stage. It dreams of chairing the Human Rights Council, an irony considering its own survival hinges on oppressive measures both within its borders and in the disputed territory of Western Sahara.
The question arises: How can a country with an apartheid-like system aspire to preside over such a distinguished United Nations body? While Morocco vies for this position, its prisons, such as Tazmamart and Kenitra, remain overcrowded with individuals falsely accused of political dissent and defending human dignity. Furthermore, leaders and activists advocating for the independence of Western Sahara, as well as journalists fighting for press freedom, languish behind bars, deprived of their basic rights!
It is crucial to address the documented oppression faced by the people of Western Sahara. In this territory, a silent and unobserved persecution of the Sahrawi people takes place, where their freedom is confiscated, they endure daily beatings, and their basic human rights are denied.
Regrettably, Rabat consistently prohibits any independent investigation or neutral observation of the human rights situation in El-Ayoune, Dakhla, and other territories that are forcefully occupied both militarily and administratively. The brutal repression by the police is met with a firm refusal to allow the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) to monitor the human rights situation. This refusal serves as undeniable evidence of their guilt.
It is imperative that we bring attention to these grave violations and demand accountability for the suffering endured by the Sahrawi people. By shining a light on their plight, we can work towards a more just and humane society.
Translated with adaptation from: La Patrie News
