Adala UK is deeply alarmed by the continued mistreatment of Saharawi student and political prisoner Hussein Bachir Amadour, currently held in Bouzkarn Prison, Morocco, under degrading and unlawful conditions. This comes despite a recent legal opinion by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) affirming the illegality of his imprisonment and calling for his immediate release.

Ongoing Mistreatment and Denial of Rights

On 26 May 2025, Amadour began a two-day hunger strike to protest the inhumane conditions of his detention. He is being held in an overcrowded cell with common law prisoners, seriously undermining his ability to prepare for university examinations. This not only constitutes degrading treatment but also violates his right to education, a fundamental right protected under international law—even in detention.

Following a transfer from Sale Prison to Bouzkarn Prison on 18 May 2025 to allow him to take exams, Moroccan prison authorities failed to provide the necessary academic support. According to his family, this move represents a deliberate obstruction of his right to education, as guaranteed by Article 13 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).

This is not the first time Amadour has been forced to resort to hunger strikes. In 2023, he undertook a hunger strike lasting over 30 days, leaving long-term impacts on his physical and psychological well-being.

UN Confirms Arbitrary Detention

In its Opinion No. 63/2024, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded that Amadour’s imprisonment amounts to arbitrary detention in violation of:

Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)– the right to liberty and security of person.

Article 14 of the ICCPR – the right to a fair trial.

The Working Group called for his immediate release, reparations, and a full investigation into the violations he has suffered. However, to date, Moroccan authorities have taken no steps to implement these recommendations, further exacerbating Morocco’s international legal liability and reinforcing a disturbing pattern of impunity.

Breach of International Law by Spain

Amadour was forcibly handed over to Moroccan authorities by Spanish intelligence on 19 January 2019, shortly after seeking political asylum in Spain. This action is a serious breach of international human rights law, particularly the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits the return of individuals to countries where they face persecution. At the time, Amadour was a known student activist advocating for Saharawi self-determination and independence.

Violations Under International Law

The treatment of Hussein Bachir Amadour violates multiple principles of international law, including:

Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions– ensuring humane treatment of detainees and prohibiting degrading treatment.

Article 13 of the ICESCR– protecting the right to education, even for those in detention. States are obligated to take proactive measures to ensure educational access for prisoners.

Adala UK Calls for Action

In light of the grave violations in Hussein Bachir Amadour’s case, Adala UK urges the international community to:

1. Demand the immediate release of Hussein Bachir Amadour in line with the UN’s legal opinion and ensure he receives adequate compensation for the harm he has endured.

2. Pressure Morocco to respect the decisions of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, including those involving Gdeim Izik detainees and other Saharawi students.

3. End the systematic abuse and poor detention conditions imposed on Saharawi political prisoners in Moroccan prisons.

4. Launch an independent international investigation into the circumstances of Amadour’s arrest, detention, and Spain’s role in his unlawful extradition—violating his right to seek asylum.

Adala UK reaffirms its unwavering commitment to defending the rights of Saharawi political prisoners and calls on governments, institutions, and civil society to stand with victims of arbitrary detention and uphold the principles of international justice and human rights.

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