Morocco's National Human Rights Council has published a report on the situation of detainees from the "Akdim Izek" events, who went on a hunger strike. The council's multidisciplinary teams conducted field visits to several prison facilities to assess the conditions of the detainees and monitor their health. The visits were carried out in accordance with a practical guide for managing hunger strikes in prisons. The council's report aims to provide an update on the situation, following a previous statement on October 16, 2026, regarding the end of the hunger strike.
The National Human Rights Council's teams visited detainees at prisons in Kenitra, Tifelt 2, Marrakech "Al-Oudaya", and Ben Guerir. The visits took place on September 29, 2026, and follow-up visits were conducted on October 14 and 15, 2026. During these visits, the teams met with the detainees in private, ensured their medical examinations, and respected medical confidentiality. The teams also met with prison doctors and reviewed the detainees' medical files. The council's report highlights the main demands of the detainees, which include being transferred to prisons closer to their families.
The detainees' main demands centered around being transferred to prisons closer to their families, which would facilitate family visits and reduce travel burdens. However, the General Delegation for Prison Administration and Rehabilitation stated that it was unable to accommodate the transfer requests, citing unsuitability of the chosen prisons for the detainees' sentence lengths and their designated categories. The prison administration also justified the suspension of phone privileges, citing misuse of the service for non-family purposes.
Three detainees held at the central prison in Kenitra - Ahmed Sebaai, Mohamed Bashir Boutenkiza, and Hassan Al-Zawi - began a hunger strike on September 23, 2026, protesting the denial of their transfer requests. They were provided with medical care at the prison infirmary. During the visits, the detainees expressed concerns about not being able to retrieve personal belongings after being transferred. Following the council's intervention, the prison management returned the belongings. The detainees also reported the suspension of phone privileges since the start of the strike.
The report also covers the situation of Mohamed Lemine Hadi, held at Tifelt 2 prison, who denied being on a hunger strike. He requested a transfer to a prison near his family in Laayoune and reported receiving regular medical follow-ups and phone privileges. Another detainee, Abdullah Abah, initially refused to meet with the council's team but was later visited at a hospital in Rabat. The report also mentions the case of Bashir Khadda, who was transferred to Laayoune 2 prison on September 25, 2026.
The council's report notes that two detainees, Naima Asafari and Hassan Dah, held at Marrakech "Al-Oudaya" and Ben Guerir prisons, respectively, went on a hunger strike on September 23, 2026, demanding transfers to prisons closer to their families. The report provides an overview of the council's efforts to engage with the detainees, prison authorities, and medical professionals to address the situation.
The National Human Rights Council's report concludes by highlighting its efforts to monitor the situation of detainees from the "Akdim Izek" events and ensure their rights are respected. The council's intervention helped to address some of the detainees' concerns, including the return of personal belongings and medical care. The report provides a detailed account of the council's activities and findings during its field visits to the prisons.
Key points
- The National Human Rights Council conducted field visits to assess the conditions of detainees from the "Akdim Izek" events.
- The detainees' main demands centered around being transferred to prisons closer to their families.
- The council's report highlights the prison administration's response to the detainees' demands and the measures taken to address their concerns.
