Spain: Exhibition Highlights Sahrawi Suffering Under Moroccan Occupation

In the heart of Galicia, Spain, the city of Santiago de Compostela is hosting a poignant photographic exhibition, "Sands and Oblivion." This powerful display by Spanish photographer Javier Iglesias brings to the forefront the decades-long suffering of the Sahrawi people, who continue to endure occupation. The exhibition, featuring images captured in Sahrawi refugee camps in the late 1990s, serves as a vital reminder, aiming to keep the Sahrawi cause from fading into obscurity.

Maria Rosas, the vice-president of Santiago de Compostela's municipality, emphasized the exhibition's goal: to awaken local public awareness to the just Sahrawi cause and expand the circle of solidarity. This initiative underscores Spain's long-standing, albeit complex, relationship with the Sahrawi people and highlights a segment of Spanish society committed to their plight.

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this initiative aims to raise local public awareness of the just Sahrawi cause and broaden the circle of support and solidarity for the Sahrawi people.

Photographer Javier Iglesias noted the enduring relevance of his work, stating that the images still reflect the harsh reality faced by the Sahrawi people, a reality unchanged by the absence of a just resolution. The exhibition is more than just art; it's a testament to a persistent struggle. The upcoming conference on May 18, featuring activists, academics, and supporters, will further amplify these messages, delving into the human and political facets of the Western Sahara conflict.

From our perspective at El Watan, this exhibition is a crucial act of solidarity. It demonstrates how international attention, even through artistic expression, can play a role in keeping a protracted humanitarian and political issue on the global agenda. It contrasts with how such issues might be perceived or prioritized in Western media, often focusing on immediate geopolitical shifts rather than long-term human consequences. This exhibition, however, keeps the focus squarely on the enduring human cost.

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the exhibited clichés, despite the many years that have passed since they were taken, continue to reflect the same reality experienced by the Sahrawi people, in the absence of any just solution to the Sahrawi question.