Sahrawi human rights activist Ghalia Abdallah Djimi condemned Morocco’s use of Pegasus spyware to intimidate journalists and activists in occupied Western Sahara during the UN Human Rights Council session. She called for an investigation and urged the international community to take urgent action against such violations of rights.
On March 12, 2025, Ghalia Abdallah Djimi, a Sahrawi human rights activist, condemned Morocco’s use of Pegasus spyware to surveil and intimidate journalists and activists in occupied Western Sahara. Speaking at the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, she highlighted that Moroccan authorities exploit advanced technology to infringe upon the rights of human rights defenders, particularly targeting women with systematic defamation and intimidation campaigns.
Djimi characterized this targeting as part of a larger strategy to suppress dissenting voices, indicating that such actions reflect a broader trend aimed at stifling free expression. She called upon the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Privacy to conduct a thorough investigation into Pegasus’ use in occupied Western Sahara and similar regions, asserting that the deployment of spyware against dissenting individuals represents a serious breach of international law.
In her closing remarks, Djimi appealed to the global community, including civil society organizations in Europe and America, alongside the African Union, urging them to take immediate actions. She emphasized the need to protect rights related to privacy and freedom of expression while calling for an end to the repressive tactics that jeopardize the safety of human rights defenders in occupied Western Sahara.
In summary, Ghalia Abdallah Djimi’s address to the UN Human Rights Council underscores the concerning use of Pegasus spyware by Morocco to surveil and intimidate dissenting voices in occupied Western Sahara. She articulated the need for urgent international intervention to safeguard privacy and freedom of expression rights, highlighting the grave implications of such surveillance practices on fundamental human rights.
Original Source: www.spsrasd.info