Human Rights Activist Critiques Morocco’s Use of Pegasus Spyware

Ghalia Abdallah Djimi condemned Morocco’s use of Pegasus spyware to surveil journalists and activists in Western Sahara. She urged investigations into these abuses and called for international action to protect human rights. Djimi highlighted the targeting of women and the broader strategy of silencing dissent.

Ghalia Abdallah Djimi, a Sahrawi human rights activist, has denounced Morocco’s systematic deployment of Pegasus spyware for the surveillance and intimidation of journalists and activists in occupied Western Sahara. Speaking at the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, she highlighted the exploitation of advanced technology by Moroccan authorities to infringe upon the rights of human rights defenders, particularly targeting women with campaigns of systematic defamation and intimidation.

Djimi emphasized that this targeting constitutes a part of a larger strategy aimed at silencing dissenting voices rather than being an isolated incident. She called for the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Privacy to conduct a thorough investigation into the application of Pegasus in occupied Western Sahara and similar regions, categorizing the use of such spyware against opponents as a serious violation of international law.

In her conclusion, Djimi appealed to the international community, including civil society organizations across Europe and America and the African Union, to engage in prompt actions to safeguard the rights to privacy and freedom of expression. She urged them to intervene against the oppressive practices that endanger the safety and rights of human rights defenders in the region.

In summary, Ghalia Abdallah Djimi’s statements at the United Nations Human Rights Council underscore a significant concern regarding the use of surveillance technology to infringe upon human rights in occupied Western Sahara. She stresses the necessity of an investigation into the abuses related to Pegasus spyware and calls upon global entities to take immediate action against such violations.

Original Source: www.spsrasd.info