Issued on: 02/07/2022
Madrid (AFP) – Demonstrators held rallies in several Spanish cities and in Rabat late Friday to protest over the deaths of 23 African migrants who died in a crush trying to enter the Spanish enclave of Melilla in northern Morocco.
Thousands of protesters gathered in Barcelona, Malaga, Vigo and San Sebastian and in Melilla itself to denounce migration policies and the "militarisation of borders".
In the Moroccan capital, a few dozen representatives of the Collective of Sub-Saharan Communities in Morocco and associations helping migrants demonstrated in front of parliament calling for Rabat to "stop playing the role of EU policeman".
"We demand an end to the migration policy funded by the European Union, the opening of an independent investigation and the return of the bodies to the families," activist Mamadou Diallo told AFP.
"The Europeans colonised us and took everything from us to develop. Today, if we go to them, it means that we have the right to leave," he said.
Spanish enclaves in Morocco AFP
Moroccan prosecutors have initiated proceedings against 65 migrants, mostly Sudanese, accused of having taken part in the mass attempt to enter Melilla from Morocco a week ago.
At least 23 migrants died when around 2,000, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa, tried to break through the fence into the Spanish enclave, according to Moroccan authorities, while NGOs say at least 37 lost their lives.
The death toll was by far the worst recorded in years of attempts by migrants to cross into Spain's Ceuta and Melilla enclaves, which have the EU's only land borders with Africa, making them a magnet for those desperate to escape grinding poverty and hunger.
'Borders kill'
The tragedy has provoked international indignation, including an unusually strong response from the United Nations, and the opening of investigations by Spain and Morocco.
In Madrid, several hundred people took up the slogans of the "Black Lives Matter" movement and chanted "No human being is illegal!" and held up signs that read: "Borders kill."
"This country makes me ashamed," said Carmen Reco, 77, attending the protest after this "injustice which resulted in the murder of migrants because they were trying to enter Spain".
Demonstrators also rallied in the Moroccan capital Rabat calling for an investigation - AFP
Renzo Rupay, who works in transport, said he was shocked by "the images of the border".
"I too am a migrant, arrived with a child's travel papers. Not everyone has the possibility of arriving legally in Spain," the 28-year-old said.
"It's not normal that so many people die. We're talking about human lives, people fleeing war and we kill them at the border," said Eva Ruiz, a 24-year-old student.
According to Rabat, the victims died "in jostling and falling" from the top of the metal gate that separates Morocco from Melilla during an attempt to storm the border "marked by the use of very violent methods on the part of migrants".
But images quickly emerged that "show bodies strewn on the ground in pools of blood, Moroccan security forces kicking and beating people, and Spanish Guardia Civil launching teargas at men clinging to fences," according to Human Rights Watch.
The migrant rush in Melilla came after Madrid and Rabat normalised their diplomatic relations following an almost year-long crisis centred on the disputed Western Sahara territory.
For Spain, the main objective of the diplomatic thaw was to ensure Morocco's cooperation in controlling illegal immigration.
© 2022 AFP
Calls for probe into migrant deaths at Spain-Morocco border
Posted Jul 1, 2022,
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Protests are expected across Spain and in the capital of Morocco Friday amid a groundswell of calls for an investigation over the deaths of at least 23 people at the border between the Spanish enclave of Melilla and Morocco.
The deaths occurred on June 24 during repeated attempts by sub-Saharan migrants and asylum seekers to scale the border fence separating both territories.
Morocco’s Human Rights Association contested the official death toll, reporting instead that 27 migrants had died, while the Spanish NGO Walking Borders is reporting 37 fatalities.
Moroccan authorities said the migrants died as a result of a “stampede.”
The demonstrations are being held under the moniker “Las Vidas Negras Importan” in Spanish or “Black Lives Matter” in English. Videos and photos that emerged in the days following the deaths have sparked outrage and condemnation by several human rights organizations and officials including the United Nations Secretary-General.
In one video shared by the Moroccan Human Rights Association dozens of young Black men, some of them motionless and bleeding are seen strewn on the floor as Moroccan security forces stand over them. One uniformed man is seen poking one body with his baton. In another video published by several Spanish media outlets a group of migrants is seen climbing a fence, some hurling rocks at Moroccan anti-riot police trying to stop them. At one point, the fence collapses, sending them to the ground from a height of several meters.
“I am shocked by the violence on the Nador-Melilla border,” U.N. Chief Antonio Guterres tweeted this week. “The use of excessive force is unacceptable, and the human rights and dignity of people on the move must be prioritized by countries.”
Spain’s state prosecutors announced the launch of a probe “to clarify what happened” given the “significance and seriousness” of the events at the Melilla border.
Authorities in Morocco and Spain also reported that 140 security officers on the Moroccan side and 60 National Police and Civil Guard officers on the Spanish side, were injured.
In an exclusive interview with the Associated Press, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez defended the way Moroccan and Spanish police repelled migrants trying to cross into Melilla calling the attempt “an attack on Spain’s borders.”
Meanwhile, the dead have yet to be identified.
Omar Naji of Morocco’s Human Rights Association in Nador said they have been contacted by the families of Sudanese migrants believed to be among the victims but have not been allowed to see the bodies or the dozens of injured migrants being treated at a local hospital.
“We demand a thorough investigation to clarify who is responsible (for the deaths) as well as the necessary autopsies to identify the causes of their deaths,” he said.
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Tarik El-Barakah contributed to this report from Rabat.
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Follow AP’s coverage of migration issues at https://apnews.com/hub/migration
Renata Brito, The Associated Press
Thousands protest migrant deaths at Spain-Morocco border
Demonstrators hold up a banner during one of many protests across Spain amid for the investigation over the deaths of at least 23 people at the border between the Spanish enclave of Melilla and Morocco, in Pamplona, northern Spain, Friday, July 1, 2022.
(AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
Catalan parties condemn Spain's reaction to migrant deaths at Morocco border crossing
Barcelona mayor "embarrassed" by PM congratulating African country for handling of situation
by
ACN | BarcelonaSeveral Catalan parties have condemned the Spanish government's reaction to the incident at the border crossing between its enclave, Melilla, and Morocco, which resulted in multiple migrant deaths.
On Saturday, hundreds of Sub-Saharans tried to jump the border fence, with 18 to 37 of them losing their lives and 300 sustaining injuries after Moroccan forces tried to stop them from leaving the country, although 133 managed to enter Spain. According to official sources, only 18 people died, but NGOs have raised this figure to 37.
Spain's prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, praised the cooperation between Madrid and Rabat, saying the "violent and organized assault" was "well resolved by both Spain's and Morocco's security forces."
"I want to thank the work of the Moroccan government," he said, referring to the attempts to avoid migrants breaking into the border.
There are reports of teargas and stones being thrown at those hoping to make their way to Europe. A video published by outlets such as 'eldiario.es' and 'Público' shows Moroccan officers in Spanish territory sending migrants back to the other side of the border.
Both the incident and Sánchez's reaction sparked outrage among several Catalan parties over the weekend.
For instance, Barcelona's anti-austerity mayor, Ada Colau, an ally of the Spanish government's junior partner, Unidas Podemos, said she was "embarrassed" by Sánchez's words.
Talking to Rac1 station, she said she was appalled at his "lack of empathy" and "coldness" after the deaths.
"The images we have seen are absolutely brutal, chilling, and unbearable," she said, referring to the footage of dozens of migrants lying on the floor at the border with police officers guarding the scene.
Pro-independence Esquerra's president, Oriol Junqueras, tweeted that Sánchez's statement "is a worrying from a human rights perspective."
Several Catalan parties have condemned the Spanish government's reaction to the incident at the border crossing between its enclave, Melilla, and Morocco, which resulted in multiple migrant deaths.
On Saturday, hundreds of Sub-Saharans tried to jump the border fence, with 18 to 37 of them losing their lives and 300 sustaining injuries after Moroccan forces tried to stop them from leaving the country, although 133 managed to enter Spain. According to official sources, only 18 people died, but NGOs have raised this figure to 37.
Spain's prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, praised the cooperation between Madrid and Rabat, saying the "violent and organized assault" was "well resolved by both Spain's and Morocco's security forces."
"I want to thank the work of the Moroccan government," he said, referring to the attempts to avoid migrants breaking into the border.
There are reports of teargas and stones being thrown at those hoping to make their way to Europe. A video published by outlets such as 'eldiario.es' and 'Público' shows Moroccan officers in Spanish territory sending migrants back to the other side of the border.
Both the incident and Sánchez's reaction sparked outrage among several Catalan parties over the weekend.
For instance, Barcelona's anti-austerity mayor, Ada Colau, an ally of the Spanish government's junior partner, Unidas Podemos, said she was "embarrassed" by Sánchez's words.
Talking to Rac1 station, she said she was appalled at his "lack of empathy" and "coldness" after the deaths.
"The images we have seen are absolutely brutal, chilling, and unbearable," she said, referring to the footage of dozens of migrants lying on the floor at the border with police officers guarding the scene.
Pro-independence Esquerra's president, Oriol Junqueras, tweeted that Sánchez's statement "is a worrying from a human rights perspective."
Calls for an investigation
Both Colau and Junqueras called for an investigation into the events to be launched.
Catalan government ministers appointed by the Catalan cabinet's junior coalition partner, Junts per Catalunya, also condemned the incident.
For instance, foreign minister Victòria Alsina said also on Twitter that she was still hoping Sánchez would "regret the events and give an explanation."
Violant Cervera, the social rights minister, believes the incident has breached "all human rights" and decried the Spanish leader's comments, while also asking for an investigation.
Far-left CUP MP Dolors Sabater called the deaths "killings" and said both Spain and Morocco "are racist, anti-black people."
Other groups, such as the Catalan council of lawyers, have also issued statements calling for an independent investigation.
Both Colau and Junqueras called for an investigation into the events to be launched.
Catalan government ministers appointed by the Catalan cabinet's junior coalition partner, Junts per Catalunya, also condemned the incident.
For instance, foreign minister Victòria Alsina said also on Twitter that she was still hoping Sánchez would "regret the events and give an explanation."
Violant Cervera, the social rights minister, believes the incident has breached "all human rights" and decried the Spanish leader's comments, while also asking for an investigation.
Far-left CUP MP Dolors Sabater called the deaths "killings" and said both Spain and Morocco "are racist, anti-black people."
Other groups, such as the Catalan council of lawyers, have also issued statements calling for an independent investigation.
Hundreds rally against Melilla incidents
Officials from several Catalan parties took part in a protest that was held on Sunday in Barcelona and gathered hundreds of people.
'Las vidas negras importan,' or 'black lives matter' in Spanish, was the motto of the rally that took place at the city's Idrissa Diallo square. This plaza was named after Antonio López, a 19th-century businessman with ties to slavery, for decades but was recently changed to that of a migrant who jumped the fence in Melilla and died in a Barcelona hospital after being sent to the migrant detention center (CIE) in the Catalan capital.
Officials from several Catalan parties took part in a protest that was held on Sunday in Barcelona and gathered hundreds of people.
'Las vidas negras importan,' or 'black lives matter' in Spanish, was the motto of the rally that took place at the city's Idrissa Diallo square. This plaza was named after Antonio López, a 19th-century businessman with ties to slavery, for decades but was recently changed to that of a migrant who jumped the fence in Melilla and died in a Barcelona hospital after being sent to the migrant detention center (CIE) in the Catalan capital.
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