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Speak up for Yahya Mohamed El Hafed Aaza

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Your Excellency,

I am writing about the case of Yahya Mohamed El Hafed Aaza, co-founder and former president of the Sahrawi branch of the Collective of Human Rights Defenders (CODESA); advocate for Sahrawi political prisoners in Western Sahara, who has been released. I am writing to ask that the case be closed properly and that no further reprisal follows.

In brief: Known as 'the father' among Sahrawi political prisoners for his support work, Yahya Mohamed El Hafed Aaza has endured enforced disappearance, solitary confinement, and repeated transfers to prisons hundreds of kilometres from his family in Tan Tan. He served the full 15-year sentence imposed on him in 2008 and was released in March 2023.

I respectfully urge your authorities to:
  1. Quash the conviction and drop any charges that remain on record against Yahya Mohamed El Hafed Aaza in connection with peaceful human rights work;
  2. Confirm publicly that Yahya Mohamed El Hafed Aaza faces no residual travel, financial, or professional restriction arising from this case;
  3. Guarantee that Yahya Mohamed El Hafed Aaza can resume that work without surveillance, summons, or further reprisal;
  4. Provide effective remedy for the period of deprivation of liberty already served.

I will continue to follow this case until the record against Yahya Mohamed El Hafed Aaza is cleared and no reprisal remains.

Respectfully,

[Your name]
[Your city, country]
8 November 2026