Date: Wednesday, December 25, 2024, 14:50
Category: International
Rabat – A new book titled Black Friday by Sudanese author Al-Hafiz Targok documents the Moroccan regime’s human rights abuses during the June 24, 2022, massacre at the Moroccan-Spanish border. This tragic event resulted in the deaths of dozens of African migrants at the hands of Moroccan security forces.
A Gripping Testimony
The book presents a detailed narrative supported by evidence of the horrific incident in which migrants, predominantly from Sudan and Chad, were brutally killed while attempting to cross the border fence between Nador, Morocco, and the Spanish enclave of Melilla. It also includes records of the dead, missing, and those detained by Moroccan authorities, who were later sentenced to harsh penalties under dubious charges.
Author Al-Hafiz Targok, a witness to the massacre, described the book as a product of exhaustive research into the violations that occurred that day. He sheds light on the excessive violence used against unarmed refugees and delves into the dire circumstances that compelled migrants to leave their homelands, enduring perilous journeys to Morocco in hopes of reaching Europe for a better future.
Insights from Human Rights Advocates
The book heavily relies on the testimony of human rights defenders, including Omar El-Naji, head of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights’ Nador branch. El-Naji has been a vocal critic of Morocco’s exploitation of irregular migration to secure financial and political gains. His role in exposing the regime’s crimes against refugees is prominently featured.
An investigative report by Moroccan news outlet Margins Info corroborated the book’s findings, describing the deaths of migrants on June 24, 2022, as a premeditated act orchestrated by Moroccan authorities. The report quoted El-Naji, who revealed how Nador’s authorities had systematically restricted food and water supplies to migrants in the mountains surrounding the area, forcing them into desperate actions.
Legal and Humanitarian Violations
A report by the Moroccan Association for Human Rights uncovered gross judicial violations in the trials of African asylum seekers detained after the tragedy. These trials, marked by fabricated charges and coerced confessions, disregarded international agreements on refugee protection.
The detained migrants recounted their experiences during court proceedings, revealing physical abuse by Moroccan security forces. Many bore visible injuries and alleged that they had been forced to sign police reports without reading them. Some were even tricked into signing documents under the false pretense of release, only to face heavy charges and unfair sentences.
A Stark Reminder
Black Friday serves as a grim reminder of the human cost of migration and the systemic failures of the Moroccan regime to uphold human rights. By documenting these atrocities, Targok amplifies the voices of the victims and calls for accountability at an international level.
For further analysis of this ongoing human rights issue, visit DZWATCH.DZ.
Author: Nor-Eleslam
