Melilla: Harsh penalties for African migrants

Melilla - That happened quickly: three weeks after the mass rush of African migrants to the border of the Spanish enclave of Melilla, the Moroccan judiciary sentenced 33 people involved to prison terms. The attack on the fortifications had killed 23 people.

The 33 accused are being jailed for eleven months each for illegal entry and violence against Moroccan border guards. This was confirmed by her lawyer Khalid Ameza. The convicts were members of a group of around 2,000 mostly Sudanese immigrants who stormed the border between Morocco and Melilla on June 24. According to Moroccan information, 23 people died. Refugee organizations even spoke of 37 dead and dozens injured.

Further trial against 29 migrants soon
The incident caused an international sensation. A Moroccan investigative report ruled out that misconduct on the part of the security forces had led to the many victims. Migrant organizations and the UN, on the other hand, accused the border guards of both countries of using excessive force.

Attorney Khalid Ameza spoke of "a very harsh verdict". He announced an appeal against the verdicts. Another group of 29 migrants is to be tried at the end of July. They are also accused of belonging to a gang of people smugglers.

Source: Junge Freiheit