18: 25 • Updated at 18:58
Moroccan authorities have been prevented by the MEP Jussi Saramon (left) and two other MEPs to enter the country in El Auun. According to Saramo, the cause was not told.
Saramo is on the way of the European Parliament’s Left Group to see the human rights situation in Western Sahara. There are two other MEPs, Spanish Isabel Serra sánchez and Portuguese Catarina Martins.
-I smell the air of Western Sahara here, Saramo said over the phone.
The party had been allowed out of the machine to the field.
However, Saramo’s assistant sent a picture and a message that they were pushed back into the plane.
In a video posted by Saramo on Instagram, Serra Sánchez says that the Moroccan authorities have not provided an explanation for preventing the trio.
“We are kept completely illegally on the plane and without any explanation,” says Serra Sánchez.
Morocco occupies Western Sahara.
The MEPs were supposed to meet NGOs in two days, get to know the UN Minurso Peace Security operation, and to look at the implementation of the Morocco and the EU trade agreement.
Saramo says that there are dozens of political prisoners officially in the country, but the number can actually be higher.
Juta edited February 20, 2025 at 6:32 pm: Fixed Serra Sánchez and Martins names.
The news is updated.