Killing of Moroccan Tourists: CNDH Denounces Algeria’s Serious Violation of International Law

Morocco’s Human Rights Council (CNDH) has joined a growing group of NGOs and people in condemning the killing of French-Moroccan tourists by Algerian coast guards on August 29.

Based on preliminary data collected, CNDH condemned Algeria’s coast guards’ decision to fire live ammunition against the tourists instead of providing assistance to people in distress at sea in line with international standards.

The statement questions Algerian maritime authorities’ reason to resort to the use of live ammunition against unarmed individuals who do not pose any threat.

The killing of the tourists took place after the victims’ jet skis mistakenly drifted to Algerian waters due to bad weather.

The victims were on vacation in Saidia, a resort in Morocco’s Oriental region.

Two of the victims were killed, while one was arrested by Algerian coastguards.

One of the victims survived Algerian bullets after swimming back to Moroccan waters. He was then rescued by Moroccan maritime services.

CNDH deplored the behavior of Algerian coastguards, stressing that the treatment of the victims amounts to a “grave violation of human rights and an arbitrary denial of the fundamental right to life, which must be protected under all circumstances, regardless of the circumstances, reasons, especially since the victims were in an unclear border area and in a non-disputed maritime region.”

In its statement, CNDH also recalled the fundamental right of people in distress to receive help as part of international law, describing the action taken by Algerian coast guards as a “serious violation of international standards related to the protection of individuals lives and safety at sea, including the provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea adopted on November 1,1974.”

Algeria’s Coast Guard’s decision to open fire on the victims is also against the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue adopted in April 1979.

The human rights council also called on the Algerian regime to return the body of Abdelali Mashour, one of the victims who was murdered by the Algerian coast guard.

The arrest of one of the tourists also drew CNDH’s ire, with the council condemning the “speed with which” the victim’s trial took place.

The arrested tourist was sentenced to 18 months in prison, a decision that sparked frustration of Moroccan citizens and the victim’s family who have been calling for his release and extradition to Moroccan authorities.

CNDH also called on Morocco’s Public Prosecutor Office in Oujda to publish the results of the investigations launched last week into the murder of the two tourists.

Algeria’s government delivered its first reaction to the crime on Sunday, denying guilt over the killing of the tourists.

Despite acknowledging its coast guards’ involvement in and direct connection to the murder of the Moroccan tourists, Algeria’ Ministry of Defense claimed that the victims attempted to flee the scene.

Claiming to have fired warning shots, the ministry said coast services opened fire against one of the jet skiers to make him stop “while the others fled.”

But these claims have been strongly rejected by Mohammed Kessi, one of the tourists who survived last week’s tragedy.

Kessi is also the brother of Bilal Kesi, who was murdered by Algerian coast guards.

The victim said he, his brother, and their friend were lost as their jet skis were running out of fuel. He added that they were trying to go back to Moroccan waters as the weather caused their jet skis to lose direction.

“We knew we were in Algeria because an Algerian coast guard approached us, maneuvering in a zigzag pattern,” the victim’s brother said.

Strongly rejecting claims that the victims had attempted to run away when they were discovered by the Algerian security services, Mohammed said: “On the contrary, I saw my brother talking to them. I don’t know what they were talking about.”