UN accuses Morocco, Spain of 'excessive force' in migrant strategy
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The organization denounces what it called "excessive force" by authorities on the border.
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UN accuses Morocco and Spain of 'excessive force' in migrant strategy
The United Nations condemned "excessive force" by police on the Moroccan-Spanish border on Tuesday and urged an inquiry into the deaths of 37 migrants who crossed the border.
Most recently, what seemed like an "unfortunate event" on the Morocco-Melilla border was, thanks to videos circulated by the media, a massacre that brutally killed 37 mostly-African refugees coming from Chad, Niger, South Sudan, and Sudan. Over 150 were injured in the systemic violence, which included charges and beatings by security forces coming from both the Spanish and the Moroccan sides.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's Spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, told reporters, "We saw the use of excessive force by the authorities, which needs to be investigated because it is unacceptable," adding that "people who are on the move have human rights and those need to be respected and we're seeing them all too often disrespected. We've seen it on both sides of the border."
Read next: They didn't just die - Spain massacred 37 refugees crossing in Melilla
#Spain #Morocco border #Melilla
— Dr. Kerem KINIK (@drkerem_en) June 26, 2022
Fire was opened on, deaths were watched, pulses were checked if they’re still alive, woundeds were beaten, investigation wasn’t carried out, deaths and injureds weren’t counted. Spain congrated Morocco for cooperation
Crime against humanity! pic.twitter.com/lK65SnjidX
Earlier in the day, a UN High Commissioner for Human Rights spokesman asked for an inquiry into the incident.
The UN Security Council will have a closed-door discussion on the event on Wednesday, at Kenya's request.
See more: Trying to reach Europe: Dead and missing
