Press release from the Student Legal Aid Association (AJE) at Grenoble Alpes University
“Free the Sahrawi students detained in Morocco!
For several days now, a major social movement has been rocking Morocco. The protesters, many of whom are from “Generation Z” (born between 1997 and 2012), denounce the endemic corruption and social misery perpetuated by a monarchy that has no qualms about spending billions on preparations for the 2030 World Cup and on maintaining a military occupation force in Western Sahara. Patients are dying in dilapidated and unaffordable hospitals, and the crumbling education system offers no prospects for young people.
On September 23, 2025, two students participating in the protests for dignity, Salah SABBAR and Brahim BABAÏT, were abducted by police in front of the University of Agadir.
These two students were then subjected to special treatment because of their geographical origin. Both are from Western Sahara, a territory considered by the UN to be “undecolonized” and illegally occupied by Morocco since the 1970s.
After their abduction, there was no news for several days about the fate of Salah SABBAR and Brahim BABAÏT, until they were sent on September 29 to a special prison in Aït Melloul, Morocco. This prison, where several Sahrawi human rights activists are incarcerated, has been repeatedly criticized for the ill-treatment of its detainees, notably by the World Organization Against Torture.
This act of reprisal is motivated by two reasons: the two students peacefully denounced the arbitrary political detentions of Sahrawis, and they attended the funeral of the historic Sahrawi human rights activist Brahim Sabbar, who died on August 14.
We call for action to secure the release of Salah SABBAR and Brahim BABAÏT, as well as all other students arrested in connection with the protests!
Solidarity with all these students who are fighting for their dignity and their future!”
Link to the petition: https://chng.it/JR5FSzJb9b/
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