The Spanish National Court, the highest court in Spain, decided to open a criminal investigation against some Polisario leaders, accused by Sahrawi civilians or their relatives of illegal detention, torture, forced disappearances and serious human rights violations.
Pablo Rafael Ruz Gutierrez, Public prosecutor of the Spanish National Court, will examine the complaint filed by the Sahrawis or their relatives who claim that they have been victim of serious abuses in the Tindouf camps, Polisario stronghold in south-western Algeria.
Brahim Ghali, the Polisario representative in Algiers, Mohamed Khaddad, former Polisario security chief and current Polisario coordinator with the MINURSO, and Brahim Biadillah, the brother of Mohamed Cheikh Biadillah the Speaker of the upper house of the Moroccan Parliament, are among the main Polisario senior executives subject of the complaint.

The Spanish lawyers of the Sahrawi plaintiffs assert that the evidence they hold constitute heavy charges against the Polisario officials. The Spanish lawyers were due to hold a news conference in Madrid on November 22 to give more details on this evidence.
In another development, the Sahrawi association defending the cause of people missing in Polisario-run camps (APDP) called the Spanish government not to allow the Polisario members, responsible for serious human rights violations, to escape justice. APDP chairman, Dahi Aguai, denounced the impunity enjoyed by these Polisario officials who continue to move freely in European countries, using diplomatic passports issued by the Algerian state.