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Aminatou Haidar who was put on board a flight bound for the Canary Island refused
upon arrival to disembark and demanded to be allowed to go back to her country, the
Western Sahara unconditionally.
She did so in protest against her forced deportation after the confiscation of her
passport and two mobile phones and against her detention in connivance with the
Spanish Government. This was in violation of all international treaties and conventions
and the international status of the Western Sahara Region whose people have since
1991 been awaiting their self-determination under the auspices of the United Nations.
The Lanzarote Airport authorities intervened during the first night to prevent Aminatou
by force from continuing with her sit-in by locking the Airport gates at11 p.m. This was
to prevent her from continuing with her sit-in the following day surrounded by the media,
human rights lawyers and activists, representatives of civil society organisations,
committees of solidarity with the Sahrawi people and members of the Sahrawi
Community in the Canary Island and other parts of Spain.
On the second day, Aminatou filed a legal suit to the Spanish authorities at the Police
Station against her forced deportation. She also gave a series of press briefings with
the some newspapers, satellite channels and international human rights organizations.
She also met with the International Red Cross Society assigned to monitor her situation
after providing her with some basic needs such as bed and blanket.
During the third night, the Spanish authorities violently intervened against Aminatou and
her sympathisers by disconnecting light at the Airport to prevent the tens of journalists
from taking picture of this blatant intervention and deportation of Aminatou from within
the Airport. She was forcibly taken away amidst protests by a large group of Sahrawis
and Spaniards who were so concerned about her health condition as she was
complaining from some sickness caused by her abduction, torture, detention and
hunger strike by political prisoners and human rights activists in Moroccan prisons.