“My Fight Now Is to Bring Them to Justice”: A Survivor’s Stand Against Torture in Morocco
by Renata Politi, Senior Legal Advisor
At just 18 years old, Ayoub El Ghan, a human rights activist from Western Sahara, joined a peaceful protest to make his voice heard. Today, he is still fighting – this time, for justice.
“Yes, I was damaged, very damaged”, he said during a medico-legal examination documenting the impact of his torture. “But my fight now is to bring those responsible for this damage to justice; I was, and I remain a fighter, they did not damage that”.
On 28 June 2018, Ayoub joined other youth activists in Western Sahara to protest against repression and call attention to human rights violations against the Sahrawi people by Moroccan authorities. The demonstration was timed to coincide with a visit by the UN Secretary General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, in the hope that their voices might reach the international community.
Instead, the peaceful protest was met with violence and a crackdown from the Moroccan authorities.
As Moroccan police moved in, protesters were beaten and chased through the streets. Trying to escape, Ayoub ran and attempted to hide. But a 4×4 police armoured vehicle sped towards him and intentionally struck him. Then, it reversed and ran over him again. As he lay on the ground, injured and unable to move, other officers threw stones at him, one of which struck his head.
Ayoub survived – but only just. Rescued by other protesters, he was hospitalised for over two months, including nearly two weeks in a coma. His injuries were life-threatening. He had to undergo surgery and was diagnosed with severe trauma to his left hip and pelvis, along with a major blood vessel tear in his thigh.
Years later, he continues to live with their consequences of the torture suffered. He struggles to stand for long periods or walk long distances, limiting his ability to work. The psychological impact has been equally profound: persistent fear, nightmares, and a sense that his life has been irreversibly altered. Eventually, Ayoub was forced to flee his country, leaving behind his family and everything he knew.
Yet, he has not stopped seeking accountability, and his activism and spirit continue to inspire those who meet him or learn his story.
After multiple unsuccessful attempts to obtain justice within Morocco – amid harassment and pressure on both him and his family – Ayoub has now taken his case to the international level. Represented by a team at Redress, Ayoub has filed a complaint before the UN Committee against Torture.
The complaint argues that the violence he suffered amounts to torture under international law. It sets out how Moroccan authorities failed not only to protect him from harm, but also to conduct an effective investigation, prosecute those responsible, or provide him with reparations.
Ayoub’s case is not an isolated one.
For decades, Sahrawi activists, journalists, and human rights defenders have faced repression in Western Sahara. Reports by NGOs and UN bodies have documented patterns of excessive force against protesters, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, and torture.
Peaceful demonstrations are frequently violently dispersed. In some cases, security forces have driven vehicles directly into crowds or individuals – acts that have resulted in serious injuries. Victims who seek justice often face intimidation, while complaints against police are routinely ignored.
International mechanisms, including UN experts, have repeatedly raised concerns about these patterns. Yet meaningful accountability remains rare.
Against this backdrop, Ayoub’s case speaks to a broader reality: a system in which abuse persists, and justice is out of reach for many.
His determination to continue seeking justice offers a powerful reminder of what is at stake.
Through this complaint, Ayoub is asking the UN Committee against Torture to ensure that his case is heard, and that Morocco is held responsible for the violations of his human rights.
Ayoub is represented by REDRESS under the framework of the United Against Torture Consortium.
Photo by: Saharauiak CC 2.0
