Prominent Western Sahara independence campaigner Aminatou Haidar speaks to the media while on a hunger strike at Guacimeta airport, on Spain's Canary island of Lanzarote, Nov. 17, 2009. Haidar, who was expelled by Moroccan authorities from the disputed territory, says she is being kept in Spain's Canary Islands against her will, according to rights groups. (Borja Suarez/Reuters)

Opinion: Silenced in the Sahara

"Saharawi Gandhi" was expelled from the Western Sahara and is now on hunger strike.

WASHINGTON — Leading Saharawi human rights activist Aminatou Haidar is on a hunger strike after being detained by Moroccan authorities and flown to the Canary Islands.

Haidar was arrested in the El Aaiun airport of the Moroccan-controlled Western Sahara on Nov. 13. Within 48 hours, she was flown to the Canary Island of Lanzarote (Spain), where she immediately began a hunger...

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