After Spain, the Polisario Front is now mobilizing one of its affiliates in the United Kingdom to pressure media outlets that have reported on its alleged ties to Iran and terrorism. In the United Kingdom, the task of countering terrorism accusations against the Polisario Front has been taken up by Adala UK, a British legal NGO led by Sidi Ahmed Fadel. A Sahrawi activist, Fadel is a regular participant in meetings of the UN Fourth Committee and sessions of the UN Human Rights Council. Disputing the content of a recent article published by The Telegraph, the association strongly condemned what it described as a «mischaracterisation of the Polisario Front as a terrorist organisation». «We express our deep concern and strong objection to the article recently published by The Telegraph, which calls for the proscription of the Polisario Front as a terrorist organisation and attempts to link the movement with acts of terrorism and instability», the NGO stated in a letter addressed to the newspaper's editor-in-chief. UK Government Pressed on the Issue In its response, Adala UK pointed the finger at Rabat, claiming the article in question «fails to address the serious and ongoing human rights abuses committed by Moroccan authorities in occupied Western Sahara». It's worth noting that the Polisario has previously attempted to distance itself from controversial statements and reports. In May, the group sought to downplay calls, published in some Spanish media and allegedly made by one of its self-styled «ministers», urging attacks on tourists and investors in the Sahara. Similarly, the Polisario dismissed a La Vanguardia article published in June that reported the presence of Sahrawis from the Tindouf camps among the leadership of terrorist groups operating in the Sahel. In its July 1st article, The Telegraph claimed that «Iran has just reached another stage in its terrifying war against the West. Britain needs to proscribe the Polisario Front as a terrorist organisation». This call was echoed by several political figures, including former UK Defence Secretary Liam Fox and Irish Senator Gerard Craughwell. The issue was formally raised in a written question by Conservative MP Charlie Dewhirst to the British Home Secretary. On May 14, Dan Jarvis, the UK's Minister of State for Security, issued a cautious response: «Whilst the Government keeps the list of proscribed organisations under constant review, we do not routinely comment on intelligence and security matters, including whether or not an organisation is under consideration for proscription».
