Moroccan immigration controls are entangled in a network of severe human rights violations, resulting in what can only be described as forced disappearances. The troubling findings of the report “Untraceable: Border practices and forced disappearances in Morocco”, a collaboration between the Association for Juridical Studies on Immigration (ASGI) and the SOLROUTES project from the University of Genoa, bring to light a dark reality for migrants.
Between October and November 2024, field research unveiled a systematic approach involving arbitrary detentions and internal deportations predominantly targeting those attempting to reach Europe, particularly sub-Saharan migrants. This troubling trend also ensnares vulnerable groups like minors and individuals under UNHCR protection, painting a grim picture influenced by a harsh racial agenda.
The report describes arrests and deportations executed without prior notice, stripping migrants of their means to contact family or legal representation, thrusting them into silence and isolation. Two harrowing events exemplify this reality—the “Melilla massacre” of June 2022, leading to numerous casualties and ongoing disappearances, and the tragic incidents in Ceuta in September 2024, marked by violence and oppression against migrants seeking refuge.
The authors of the report underscore these actions as grave violations of fundamental rights, including freedom, security, and the right to life, all in blatant disregard for legal protections against torture and collective expulsions. Furthermore, the text discusses how these harsh practices are closely linked to the externalisation of European borders, propelled by significant EU funding aimed at bloodcurdling migration controls in Morocco.
Moroccan border policies have led to severe human rights violations, including forced disappearances of migrants, according to a new ASGI report. Arbitrary detentions, internal deportations, and the use of excessive force target sub-Saharan migrants and vulnerable groups. The report highlights two significant incidents: the Melilla massacre and violence in Ceuta, revealing systemic abuses underpinned by EU funding for border control. The authors call attention to the vast violations of fundamental rights that these practices entail.
The report starkly illustrates how Morocco’s immigration policies perpetuate human rights abuses, leading to forced disappearances. Arbitrary detentions, violence, and disregard for basic rights are pervasive, particularly for sub-Saharan migrants and vulnerable populations. Moreover, the alignment between these practices and EU-funded border control initiatives raises pressing ethical concerns regarding the treatment of migrants. Ultimately, the plight of these individuals underscores a critical need for international accountability and reform.
Original Source: www.asgi.it
