The detention of Podemos europarliamentarian Isa Serra and her colleagues has sparked significant outcry from the progressive political party and raised serious questions about human rights practices in Western Sahara. On February 20, 2025, Serra, along with Jussi Saramo from the Finnish delegation and Catarina Martins from Portugal, were reportedly held by unidentified individuals at the El Aaiún Airport shortly after their arrival.
According to Podemos Secretary General Ione Belarra, the delegation's intention was clear: they were on location to conduct a human rights observation mission, focusing on recent legal precedents surrounding the agreements between the European Union (EU) and Morocco. "This group of eurodiputados se había desplazado a la zona para realizar una 'misión' en favor de los Derechos Humanos en el Sáhara Occidental," Belarra stated, underscoring the purpose of their trip and the broader political ramifications.
Details are surfacing about the nature of their detention, as witnesses claim the officials did not disclose their identities nor provide any explanation for the detention. This incident raises significant alarms about the treatment of democratically elected representatives. The party has demanded immediate attention from Spanish and European authorities to fulfill their obligations and guarantee the members’ rights as public representatives.
During the planned mission, the parliamentarians had organized meetings with various human rights organizations active within the territory, aiming to shed light on the alleged exploitation of natural resources and other violations reported throughout the region. "Numerous authorities must be involved to carry out their work," officials from Podemos asserted, emphasizing the need for cooperation from Spain, Morocco, and the wider European community.
The tension escalated when the Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister, José Manuel Albares, was notified about the situation. He took to social media to announce, "...el embajador debe trasladar 'claramente' que se trata de 'personas elegidas democráticamente'," referring to the urgent need for diplomatic intervention by the Spanish ambassador to Morocco to secure the europarliamentarians' release.
This incident is not isolated; it echoes similar experiences faced by other politicians aiming to engage with Sahrawi communities. Just recently, members of the Basque Parliament were also denied entry to El Aaiún under circumstances considered unlawful.
The international community has been monitoring the situation closely, with Podemos formally alerting the European Union delegation and relevant embassies of Finland, Portugal, and Spain about the detention. They have urged immediate responses from these institutions to secure the delegation's freedom.
Belarra has called the detention “absolutely illegal,” underscoring the fact they were targeted not for any wrongdoing, but simply for seeking to perform their roles as representatives of the electorate. The broader issue concerns the legality of international agreements between the EU and Morocco, particularly following recent rulings from the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) which struck down certain trade agreements, citing violations of human rights.
Podemos stresses the significance of complying with United Nations resolutions and international law. They are positioning themselves as advocates for the Sahrawi people and emphasizing the responsibility of the EU to uphold human rights standards as set forth by international statutes.
Following the ordeal at El Aaiún, the group of detained europarliamentarians is expected to travel to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to hold a press conference addressing their experience and the necessity for international scrutiny over Morocco’s governance of Western Sahara. Their message aims not only to secure their own release but also to galvanize public awareness around the rights of the people living under occupation.
While the outcome of this diplomatic impasse remains uncertain, it casts light on the larger geopolitical strategies at play, including the role of Spain as a key ally to Morocco and the EU’s commitment to human rights advocacy. The next steps will be closely followed by both supporters of the Sahrawi cause and critics of the Moroccan regime's repeated violations of democratic rights.