The United Kingdom, alongside allies such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway, has recently taken the unprecedented step of imposing sanctions on two far-right Israeli ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, for inciting extremist violence against Palestinians. This marks an important recognition of the serious human rights violations occurring in the occupied West Bank and signals a commitment to holding perpetrators accountable.

However, this principled stance sharply contrasts with the UK’s ongoing support for Morocco’s occupation and systematic repression in Western Sahara, where the Sahrawi people continue to suffer grave human rights abuses and are denied their right to self-determination.

Condemning Settler Violence but Overlooking Colonial Occupation

The sanctioned Israeli ministers are widely condemned for their inflammatory rhetoric and policies that promote the displacement of Palestinians and the expansion of illegal settlements, undermining peace prospects. In response, the UK and its allies imposed targeted sanctions aimed at curbing such extremist actions.

Yet, while the UK has condemned Israeli abuses, it continues to endorse Morocco’s so-called “autonomy plan” for Western Sahara. This plan, rejected by the Sahrawi people and the United Nations, offers only limited self-governance under Moroccan sovereignty and ignores decades of Sahrawi demands for a free and fair referendum on independence.

This policy shift aligns the UK with a government that has consistently defied international law, obstructed UN resolutions, and perpetuated a system of repression against the Sahrawi people.

Human Rights Violations Whitewashed for Economic and Political Gain

Despite official praise from UK officials for Morocco’s autonomy proposal, the human rights situation in Western Sahara remains dire. Adala UK’s reports and other Credible reports from international human rights organizations document widespread abuses, including:

• Torture and forced confessions: Sahrawi political prisoners have been convicted based on confessions extracted under torture, with courts disregarding allegations of ill-treatment.
• Arbitrary detention: Many Sahrawi activists remain imprisoned after unfair trials, enduring harsh conditions and long sentences simply for opposing the occupation.
• Suppression of dissent: Sahrawi human rights defenders face harassment, surveillance, and restrictions on freedom of expression..
• Obstruction of UN monitoring: Morocco has prevented the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and other international observers from accessing the territory, effectively blocking independent scrutiny.

In parallel, the UK has pursued lucrative economic partnerships with Morocco, including significant contracts connected to Morocco’s role as co-host of the 2030 FIFA World Cup. These business interests appear to take precedence over the protection of fundamental human rights.

The Principle of Self-Determination Must Be Universal

The right to self-determination is a cornerstone of international law, enshrined in the UN Charter and recognized globally as a fundamental human right. The UK’s vocal support for Palestinian self-determination should be consistently applied to all peoples living under foreign occupation, including the Sahrawi population.

For nearly fifty years, Sahrawis have endured military occupation, displacement, and political repression. Denying them the opportunity to freely decide their future not only violates their rights but also undermines the legitimacy of the international human rights framework that the UK claims to uphold.

A Call for Consistent and Just UK Foreign Policy

Adala UK urges the British government to align its policies with universal human rights principles and international law by:

• Withdrawing support for Morocco’s autonomy plan until a genuine, UN-supervised referendum on Sahrawi self-determination can take place.
• Publicly condemning Morocco’s use of torture, arbitrary detention, and the suppression of political freedoms.
• Advocating for renewed UN human rights monitoring and investigative missions in Western Sahara.
• Considering targeted sanctions against Moroccan officials responsible for serious human rights violations.
• Ensuring that UK businesses operating in the region conduct due diligence to avoid complicity in abuses.

Selective outrage and transactional diplomacy weaken the UK’s credibility as a defender of human rights. True commitment requires standing equally for the rights of all oppressed peoples—whether in Palestine, Western Sahara, or elsewhere.

Only by ending these double standards can the UK reclaim its role as a consistent and credible advocate for justice and human dignity worldwide.

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