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The family of a Moroccan irregular migrant has accused Spain’s Guardia Civil (a militarized police unit) of murdering their relatives in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.
Over 8,000 irregular migrations entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from northern Morocco in recent days, with photos and videos going viral of the migrants swimming from Morocco to Ceuta or using inflatable boats to reach the Spanish enclave.
The situation caused frustration among Spanish government officials, many of whom urged the government to deploy the army to handle the migration crisis.
Some videos showed the military using their sticks and tear gas to disperse the migrants.
The family of one of the migrants who died in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta opened up about his situation, calling for an autopsy to reveal the reason of death.
Saber Azzouz’s case dates back to Monday, May 17, when he decided to cross to the Spanish enclave during a mass irregular migration attempt.
Azzouz, 19, is from Fnideq in northern Morocco. The region is frequently used by irregular migrants due to its proximity to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.
His family told Moroccan television channel 2M that Spanish Guardia Civil used force against him.
The family said that they were only able to know about what happened to Azouz after they posted his photo online and asked whether anyone had seen him.
According to Azzouz’s mother, the family received photos of his clothes and were told that her son drowned during his attempt to reach Ceuta.
For the family, however, Saber Azzouz’s death was caused by Gaurdia Civil’s use of violence to repress migrants. They stressed that the 19-year-old’s clothes bear blood marks that could not have been caused by drowning.
The family called for the assistance of the Northern Human Rights Observatory (ONDH) to pressure Spain to repatriate their son’s mortal remains for an autopsy.
Azzouz’s family also revealed that they have been receiving phone messages and calls from an unknown person who presented themselves to the family as an employee at the Ceuta court.
The family said that they received suspicious phone calls from the individual to tell them to drop their request for the repatriation of the body for autopsy.
Mohamed Ben Aissa, the president of National Observatory of Human Development (ONDH), confirmed that the Moroccan organization has received the family’s request to intervene.
“We have videos which show an inordinate use of violence by the Guardia Civil against migrants. They are beaten with batons and thrown into the sea,” he said.
He also said that ONDH is putting pressure on Spain to repatriate the body of Sabez Azzouz and to open an investigation into the circumstances of his death.
