Morocco closes investigation into deaths at Melilla border crossing

The Moroccan judiciary has closed the investigation into the tragedy at the Melilla border fence on June 24, 2022 due to a lack of criminal evidence. Citing sources in the public prosecutor’s office, the Spanish news agency EFE reports that the investigation concluded that the Moroccan armed forces used “proportionate force”, which is in line with the Spanish court ruling that held Madrid partly responsible for the deaths.

That day, 23 migrants died after more than 1,700 tried to enter the Spanish enclave through the border crossing at Nador. The Moroccan Human Rights Association (AMDH) reported an even higher toll of 27 dead and 70 others missing.

“The investigation revealed that the intervention of the public forces was aimed at repelling the attack, eliminating the existing danger and maintaining order through the appropriate use of force, despite the aggressive and violent behavior of the migrants, their large number and their possession of bladed weapons,” sources from the Moroccan Public Prosecutor’s Office told EFE. These sources further explained that “the injuries sustained by the migrants were due to their attempt to force their way through the border post despite the intense crowding and pushing, as well as their attempts to climb over the fence.”

“Testimonies from the migrants and the results of the autopsies of the dead confirm this explanation,” the sources added. After the crossing attempt, 61 migrants were sentenced to prison terms of up to three years. The judicial authorities also took into account the views of civil society organizations in the investigation.

Last weekend, the AMDH section in Nador reported that some of the victims had been buried on the “instructions” of the public prosecutor’s office after DNA samples had been taken.