Rabat – Morocco’s National Council for Human Rights (CNDH) announced on Monday the formation of an investigative committee to visit Nador and probe into the events of Friday that saw the deaths of more than 20 migrants.
The committee will be led by Mohammed Laamarati, president of CNDH’s branch in eastern Morocco.
The Council called Friday’s events “tragic and violent,” adding that it has been closely following the case and examining some of the footage being circulated.
“The Council examined circulated pictures and videos, and noted, once again, that many of them are irrelevant to the migrants’ crossing attempt, and contain obfuscation and fake information about the crossing attempt and its results,” the CNDH’s press release said.
More than 2,000 undocumented migrants tried to cross the border between Morocco and the Spanish enclave of Melilla on Friday, leading to violent clashes with security services.
At least 23 migrants have died as a result of the violent clashes, while hundreds, including from the Moroccan and Spanish border guards, sustained serious injuries, according to official estimates.
Human rights organizations have continued to call for an independent investigation into the tragedy.
Read also: Melilla Tragedy: Death Toll Rises to 23, Rights Groups Call for Probe
Morocco’s Association for Human Rights (AMDH) pushed for a “quick, serious, and comprehensive” probe on Sunday, condemning authorities’ decision to bury the deceased migrants without performing autopsies first.
A statement by the AMDH, in which it condemned the migration policies in place as “inhumane,” has been signed by over 40 Moroccan and international human rights organizations.
Meanwhile, African ambassadors in Morocco have expressed their backing of the country’s migration policy, citing Morocco’s role in contributing to humane migration policies in Africa.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also praised Morocco’s migration policies, calling the North African country “a strategic partner” in terms of controlling irregular migration.
Meanwhile, the African Union called on Sunday for “an immediate investigation,” urging countries to prioritize safety and human rights.
