The Secretary of International Policy and Cooperation of the PSOE, Elena Valenciano, has asked the Government of Morocco to allow the Saharawi activist Aminatou Haidar, on hunger strike for more than a week at the Lanzarote airport, "to return to El Aaiún to reunite with her family".
Valenciano has assured that if Morocco does not accept Haidar's return, "it would be violating the Convention on Political and Civil Rights of the United Nations".
Morocco expelled Aminatou Haidar last Saturday, November 14 from El Aaiún, the capital of Western Sahara, "for refusing to put her nationality as Moroccan" on the form that must be filled out for police control. Since then, in protest at her transfer to Lanzarote, the activist has been on hunger strike at Guacimeta airport "to force a solution".
"This woman deserves to return"
According to Elena Valenciano, "this woman deserves to return, so we ask the Moroccans to please accept her return". In addition, she recalled that Aminatou Haidar has a residence card to move freely throughout Spain, but has recognized "her right to return with her family".
The PSOE's request takes place after the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, met last Thursday, November 19 with his Moroccan colleague, Taib Fasi Fihri, in Rabat with the intention of discussing, among other matters, the Haidar case. However, according to the press release sent by the socialists, "Moratinos gave no public explanation about his contacts with Fasi Fihri".
The socialist leader concludes by adding that the Spanish Government, "has always wanted to contribute to understanding between the parties" and that "has maintained a constructive attitude".
