Madrid Book Fair Cancels Talk on Moroccan Sahara Over Neutrality Concerns

The Madrid Book Fair has canceled a talk titled 'Sahara: Heritage, Identity, and Development Paths in Light of Contemporary Transformations,' which was scheduled for this afternoon. The event was intended to analyze 'the characteristics of the Moroccan Sahara,' including 'Hassaniya in the Moroccan school, the development model of the southern provinces of Morocco, and the maritime economy in southern Morocco.' The fair's organizers stated that the activity 'should never have been part of the program' and that it 'does not meet the criteria of plurality, institutional neutrality, and sensitivity required in a cultural space.' The cancellation followed a request from the Polisario Front's Representation in Spain, which had called for the event to be removed to avoid 'unilateral political positions.' The decision highlights ongoing tensions surrounding the Western Sahara conflict and the role of cultural institutions in politically sensitive discussions.