By Sandblast, July 17, 2022
At an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) committee hearing in London on 8 June 2022, human rights activist Ruth McDonough describes the human rights abuses she witnessed while living under house arrest with the prominent Saharawi activist, Sultana Khaya, in the city of Boujdour in Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara. Ruth was part of a volunteer team that responded to Sultana’s call for international visitors and unarmed civilian protection since living under arbitrary house arrest with her mother and sister since 19 November 2020. Ruth spent 75 days with the Khaya family and participated in a hunger strike before Sultana was finally released on 3 June to seek medical treatment in Spain. The conference for self-determination and independence for Saharawi people was organised by the APPG on Western Sahara, the Polisario Front delegation in the UK, Saharawi diaspora, Western Sahara Campaign UK and Sandblast.