Information

Harassment and
intimidation of the
Sahrawi journalist
Mbarek El Fahimi

July 2017
Full Name: Mbarek El Fahimi
Education: Freshman at Ibn Zouher University Agadir-Morocco
Activities: Writer and Journalist at Nuchataa Press Firm
Imprisonments: Five times between 2011 and 2014
Address: El Aaiun, Western Sahara

The offensive of the Moroccan authorities against Sahrawi journalists

persists, with the goal to prevent their press activities denouncing the non-
violent struggle of the Sahrawi people for freedom. The Moroccan
authorities continue their repressive and intimidating actions against the
journalists.

On March 13th, 2017 agents of the Moroccan authorities arrested Mohamed

Dady and before that, on December the 31st 2016 the Moroccan authorities
have sent clear signs of their intentions to arrest Mbarek El Fahimi in El
Aaiun city. The latest of these signs was on June 11th 2017.
On arrival at El Aaiun city on Sunday, the 11th 2017 from Agadir, where
Mbarek El Fahimi had two exams at Ibn Zouhr University, he was
scrutinized by some plainclothes security elements, who were watching his
family house on Rass Elkheima Avenue in El Aaiun city. The secret security
elements seemed to be assigned to survey and keep an eye on him.

Moroccan police car watching the home of journalist Mbarak EL Fahimi

Mahmoud Haddi and the journalist Mohamed Dady have confirmed after
their release from prison that Ahmed Kaya, chief district security officer
had assured them of his intentions to make their colleague Mbarek El
Fahimi pay on account of his activities as journalist in Nuchataa Press,
published in both Arabic and Spanish, and his political line that opposes
the Moroccan authority rhetorics and discourse.

Moroccan authorities have arrested Mbarek El Fahimi, five times from 2011
to 2014. During these arrests, he was subjugated to torture and abusive
treatment during the investigation by security elements in plaincloth, then
he was stripped naked and thrown outside the urban slum of the city.

In 2014, he was arrested in El Aaiun city , Western Sahara, and was taken to
the district security center where he was coerced to sign the judiciary
proceedings.

After his release in 2013

Mbarek El Fahimi is a writer, a journalist and a Sahrawi student at Agadir

city in Southern Morocco . He has written many articles published in
different Sahrawi websites and public newspapers in addition to his videos
for Nuchataa Press Firm. This is the reason why he is targeted to be
imprisoned.

He has filed many complaints to the representative of the king at the court
of appeal in el Aaiun city, Western Sahara, but with no effect. The last
complaint was filed on August the 31st on his arrival from abroad.
A copy of the complaint filed to the king representitive at the court of appeal in 11/02/2014
A copy of the complaint filed to the king representitive at the court of appeal in 31/08/2016

Mbarek Engage in his activities