New York – Special Report
As the United Nations Security Council continues to address the Western Sahara issue, the UN headquarters in New York hosted a photography exhibition on Tuesday evening entitled “50 Years, 50 Faces: Sahrawi Exile – A Life of Resilience.” The event sought to highlight the human experience of Sahrawi exile, documenting the hardships, daily challenges, and aspirations of generations of Sahrawis.
The exhibition was organized by Oxfam’s office in cooperation with the permanent missions of Algeria, Belize, Namibia, South Africa, Timor-Leste, and Uganda to the United Nations. It featured 50 photographs by Sahrawi photographer Adad Ami, portraying the lives of Sahrawi women, men, and young people, while highlighting their resilience and attachment to their identity amid decades of displacement.
Speakers at the opening ceremony, including Sidi Mohamed Ammar, the Polisario Front’s representative to the United Nations, stressed the importance of keeping the Sahrawi issue on the international agenda and reaffirming the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination, amid the continued deadlock in the political settlement process.
Beyond the humanitarian and political messages conveyed by the photographs, however, the Western Sahara issue remains marked by broader human rights concerns. These extend beyond the conditions of refugee camps and exile to include the situation of Sahrawi prisoners in Moroccan jails, where human rights organizations have raised concerns over detention conditions, access to medical care, and legal safeguards.
Sahrawi Prisoners in Moroccan Jails: Warnings Over Deteriorating Health and Detention Conditions
In this context, the League for the Protection of Sahrawi Prisoners in Moroccan Prisons (LPPS) issued warnings in October 2026 about what it described as a serious deterioration in the health and humanitarian conditions of several Sahrawi civilian prisoners, amid ongoing hunger strikes and protests in a number of detention facilities.
According to the organization's statement, Hassan Dah, detained at Benguerir Prison, informed his family that he was continuing an open-ended hunger strike while suffering from severe kidney pain and irregular heartbeats. The organization said his family had not been provided with the results of his medical examinations. It also reported that he was being held in a high-security isolation cell and deprived of books and certain personal belongings.
At Kenitra Central Prison, the organization reported a deterioration in the health of prisoner Lahcine Zaoui, who suffers from severe asthma. According to the statement, his respiratory condition worsened after prison authorities painted his cell while he was attending a family visit.
The statement also raised concerns about Ahmed Sebai, who reportedly suffers from a heart condition and is being held in solitary confinement.
These accounts have renewed questions about the adequacy of medical care in prisons and compliance with international standards governing the treatment of detainees, particularly those suffering from chronic illnesses or participating in hunger strikes.
Gdeim Izik Prisoners: UN Concerns Over Allegations of Torture and Unfair Trials
Concerns about prison conditions are not limited to statements issued by local organizations. The material also refers to observations attributed to the United Nations Committee Against Torture in May 2026 concerning the cases of prisoners connected to the Gdeim Izik group.
According to the information cited, the committee addressed concerns involving arbitrary detention, solitary confinement, torture or ill-treatment during interrogation, and the alleged use of confessions obtained under coercion in judicial proceedings.
The committee reportedly called for independent investigations into the alleged violations, appropriate remedies for victims, and a review of the convictions associated with the case.
These observations are particularly significant because they concern an international UN body responsible for monitoring states' compliance with their obligations under international human rights law. They also raise questions about fair-trial guarantees and the protection of detainees against torture and ill-treatment.
Solitary Confinement and Concerns Over Legal Safeguards
In a separate case, Amnesty International has raised concerns about Sahrawi activist Mustapha Dahani, who the organization says was arrested in October 2025 following his deportation from Dubai and subsequently held in solitary confinement for more than 300 days.
The organization questioned the legality of the prolonged isolation, referring to the limits and safeguards established under Moroccan law. It also criticized the application of Morocco's Counterterrorism Law No. 03-03, which reportedly allows access to a lawyer to be delayed until the sixth day of detention.
Amnesty International has warned that such procedures may increase the risk of torture and other forms of ill-treatment, particularly during the initial stages of detention, when access to legal counsel and independent oversight are essential safeguards.
The case has once again brought attention to the compatibility of detention and solitary confinement practices with international human rights standards, as well as the need for independent monitoring of prison conditions.
Western Sahara: Between Diplomatic Engagement and Human Rights Challenges
These developments come amid a political and diplomatic climate characterized by the prolonged stalemate surrounding the Western Sahara dispute, with the UN Security Council continuing its discussions on the future of the political process and the role of the international community in advancing a settlement.
While the exhibition at UN headquarters focused on the hardships experienced by Sahrawis in exile, emphasizing resilience and attachment to identity, human rights reports have drawn attention to another dimension of the crisis: the situation of Sahrawi prisoners in Moroccan jails, including detention conditions, judicial safeguards, and access to healthcare.
Amid continuing debate over the human rights situation in Western Sahara and limited independent access to certain areas, calls have grown for stronger monitoring and documentation mechanisms and for international human rights organizations to be granted access to all relevant locations and individuals without political restrictions.
The significance of the exhibition therefore extends beyond the symbolic message conveyed by its 50 photographs. It also highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to the humanitarian and human rights dimensions of the Western Sahara issue, one that prioritizes the protection of civilians and detainees, respect for fundamental rights, and accountability for any violations established through independent and credible investigations.