(AI translated) Mohamed Khouna Babet, born in 1981, is a Sahrawi human rights activist who was arrested and prosecuted in an environment characterized by repression of protests and demands related to human rights and fundamental freedoms in the Western Sahara. In 2017, he was sentenced by the Appeal Court of Salé, Morocco, to 25 years in prison in a case related to the events at the Aqdim Izik camp.

The Sahrawi political prisoner Mohamed Babet worked in the local administration of the occupied city of Laayoune. However, his protest activities and participation in demonstrations made him a target for repeated pressures and threats. After the violent dismantling of the Aqdim Izik camp by Moroccan occupation forces in November 2010, he regularly participated in protests and marches demanding the release of detainees and prisoners. He continued to express his opinions and participate in protests, despite claims that he faced threats and pressure from both his employer and the authorities.

On August 15, 2011, Mohamed Khouna Babet was arrested. During his appearance before the Appeal Court, he provided a detailed account of the circumstances of his arrest and the treatment he endured during his detention. He stated that he was subjected to torture and taken to an abandoned location near the Aqdim Izik camp, where he was stripped of his clothes and tortured. He also described other forms of torture and abuse during his transfer first to Agadir and then to the Salé II prison.

According to his account, the confessions and statements that were used as evidence in the case were not the result of his free will; rather, he signed them under duress, torture, pressure, and coercion. He also explicitly denied being at the Aqdim Izik camp on November 8, 2010, the date related to the events that formed the basis of the case against him.

These claims, along with the circumstances of his arrest and trial, raise serious questions about the respect for the guarantees of a fair trial, particularly with regard to the prohibition of torture and the inadmissibility of confessions obtained under coercion as evidence. His case also highlights the risks that human rights activists may face when participating in peaceful protests, documenting violations, or defending the rights of detainees.