More than 60 people gathered today in a demonstration in front of the Moroccan embassy in Oslo, Norway, calling for the respect of human rights in Western Sahara. Read also: Rabab's closest family is arrested Read also: "My aunt and grandmother are safe"
The demonstration came spontaneously as a response to the attacks against Sahrawis in El Aaiun, Friday.
Among the ones arrested by Moroccan police Friday, were the mother and two sisters of the human rights activist Rabab Amidane. Amidane is currently on a visit in Oslo to meet Norwegian students, and was the only Sahrawi who participated in the demonstration in Oslo.
Amidane, who is now the only person in her family not currently imprisoned, explained how police in the recent attacks had destroyed her entire house. Her family had earlier on Friday attended a demonstration in El Aaiun.
Parliamentarian Ms Trine Skei Grande of the Norwegian Liberal Party demanded that the Norwegian government adopts an ever stricter policy vis-à-vis Morocco, and informed that she has just this week has raised the issue in the Norwegian Parliament.
Speakers were also Mr. Håvard Grastveit, leader of the Center Party Youth in Oslo, and Ms Naomi Røkkum, board member of Liberal Youth Norway.
Mr. Ronny Hansen, chairman of the Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara thanked the people who had showed up at the gathering on such a short notice.
After the meeting, Amidane, Grande, Grastveit, Røkkum and Hansen attended a meeting with the Moroccan ambassador to Norway, Mr Yahdih Bouchaab who explained that Western Sahara is not occupied by Morocco.
Since 1975, three quarters of the territory of Western Sahara has been occupied by Morocco. A majority of the population is still living in refugee camps in Algeria. Those who remained in their homeland are subjected to serious harassment from the Moroccan occupiers. For more than 40 years the Sahrawis have been waiting for the fullfilment of their legitimate right to self-determination.
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A 20 page long booklet on the Western Sahara conflict has been published by the Norwegian Refugee Council. Order a hard copy version of the publication "Occupied Country, Displaced People" here.
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Since 1975, three quarters of the territory of Western Sahara has been occupied by Morocco. A majority of the population is still living in refugee camps in Algeria. Those who remained in their homeland are subjected to serious harassment from the Moroccan occupiers. For more than 40 years the Sahrawis have been waiting for the fullfilment of their legitimate right to self-determination.
