Moroccan justice sentences migrants who tried to cross to Melilla to 11 months in prison

First modification: 07/20/2022 – 01:59

In addition to the sentence, those convicted will have to pay a fine of 500 dirhams, approximately 47 euros, and compensation of 3,500 dirhams, around 330 euros for the damage caused to the agents and to public property.

In a previous session, the defendants had acknowledged that they had entered Morocco illegally, but denied other accusations, such as “facilitating and organizing the clandestine entry and exit of foreigners to and from Morocco, armed crowds on the road public and outrage against public officials”.

In a hearing held on July 4, the defense of the migrants, who are mostly from Sudan, argued their refugee status, in order to obtain parole, however, the judge denied the request and ruled on the sentence. .

Another 32 people were arrested in the same group that tried to cross and are charged with more serious crimes, a hearing is expected on the 27th of this month. They are reported to facilitate the entry and exit of people to Morocco, kidnapping and retention of agents of the public forces to use them as hostages, causing a fire in a forest and violating Moroccan agents.

a desperate attempt

As reported by the Moroccan authorities, on June 24, a group of approximately 2,000 people attempted to massively cross the fence of the Spanish city of Melilla.

A balance of 23 dead migrants was reported, who fell when they climbed the fence. 76 were injured, 13 of them seriously. All the wounded, agents and migrants, were transferred to two hospitals in the city of Nador.

As for the Moroccan agents, who tried to contain the large group, 140 were injured, five of them reported serious injuries. Witnesses said that the events were “characterized by the use of very violent methods.” On the Spanish side, 49 Civil Guard agents and 57 other immigrants were injured.

Spanish authorities reported that 133 of the migrants managed to cross the fence and enter Spain through the city of Melilla. The Government Delegation of the autonomous city reported that these people requested asylum in Spain.

African Union President Moussa Faki Mahamat has called for an investigation into what happened on June 24, as Moroccan authorities have been accused of killing some of the migrants. They respond by saying that they died when they fell from the fence.

Faki also reminded all countries of their obligations under international law, calling for dignified treatment of migrants:

“I express my deep shock and concern at the violent and degrading treatment of African migrants attempting to cross an international border from Morocco to Spain, with the resulting violence resulting in the death of at least 23 people and many more injuries,” he said on Twitter. .

This is not the first fact that has been presented recently, in April of this year, a group estimated at 2,500 people by the authorities, all of sub-Saharan origin, tried to jump the same fence, it is believed that about 500 achieved their goal.

According to local media, the entry of migrants through the fence has doubled in recent years, in 2021 alone there were 950 entries of migrants of sub-Saharan origin seeking a better future in Europe.

Last March, Morocco and Spain resumed their bilateral relations after months of strong tension caused by the fact that Madrid welcomed Brahim Gali, leader of the Polisario Front, in 2021, a movement with which Rabat has had a rivalry for decades for dominance. of Western Sahara.

After this event, in the spring of 2021 alone, 8,000 migrants managed to cross the border in the city of Ceuta, also located in northern Morocco, which was perceived by Moncloa as an act of retaliation for having welcomed Gali. Finally, in March, both countries reached an agreement, when Madrid agreed to abandon its neutral position regarding the Sahara.

With EFE and local media