During the month of June 1991 the Moroccan authorities released over 300 “disappeared” civilians of Western Saharan origin (Sahrawis) who had been held in secret detention for up to 15 years. Freed Sahrawis immediately reported that dozens of their fellow inmates had died in detention, mainly as a result of atrocious prison conditions. Many of the former prisoners are said to be in poor health; some paralysed, others blind and a number insane.
