The School of Oriental and African Studies - University of London

Speak Law to Power at the SANDBLAST/SOAS WesternSaharathon ...

On 16th October 1975, the International Court of Justice delivered its Advisory Opinion on the Western Sahara, famously upholding the right of self-determination of the people of Western Sahara over the territorial claims of neighbouring states, Morocco and Mauritania. Three weeks later, in disregard of the Court's Opinion, and in violation of international law, Morocco staged its 'Green March' into Western Sahara, so beginning the occupation that continues today.

To mark both these anniversaries – legal and illegal – and to publicise and protest the continuing occupation of Western Sahara by Morocco, and the failure of the international community to uphold Western Sahara's right of self-determination, the Centre for the study of Colonialism, Empire and International Law and Sandblast are hosting the first ever WesternSaharathon. Ken Loach, Juliet Stevenson and Mark Thomas and other special guests will join with international lawyers, activists, and students from all over London for a marathon public reading of the ICJ's Advisory Opinion that will begin at 1.00pm on 16th October (the anniversary of the Opinion) and continue every lunchtime until 6th November (the anniversary of the Green March).

How To Take Part: To register for this event, email cd4@soas.ac.uk. Alternatively, just turn up at SOAS at 1.00pm any day between 16th October and 6th November, and join the queue to read the Opinion. We ask you to read only a few passages and then pass the 'legal baton' to the next in a line of speakers who will assemble on the SOAS steps each lunchtime.

We hope you can join us for this unprecedented marathon public reading of an international law court decision.

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