The Moroccan Inter-ministerial Delegation for Human Rights (DIDH) rejected, on Thursday, the biased report by Amnesty International (AI) on the incidents that happened on June 24 at the border crossing between Nador and the occupied city of Melilla.
On that tragic day, around 2,000 migrants had tried to storm into Melilla and climb the metal fence. 23 migrants died as a result of the stampede and asphyxia.
The National Human Rights Council had affirmed that in the absence of individual autopsies, there is no way to link the deaths to disproportionate use of force.
The Spanish Commission for Refugees (CEAR) had confirmed that the said deaths happened on the Spanish territories.
AI released a report on Dec. 13 that is not supported by evidence and clearly lacks objectivity and impartiality, the standard operating procedures for non-governmental organizations working in the field of human rights. The organization used an unsound methodology drawing on remote interviews and available images and video footage, instead of conducting a substantive field investigation.
The DIDH stressed that the report was biased in terms of data collected from three associations which either adopt an anti-Morocco position or have no links to the topic, a fact that resulted in flaws and weaknesses in the AI’s conclusions.
AI report is missing some information that made it incomprehensive while it was supposed to be holistic. This is due to the short visit paid by the NGO to Melilla, which is not enough to dig up evidence and collect facts.
In addition, the number of deaths and victims documented in the report is exaggerated and inaccurate. There is also an inconsistency and discrepancy about the collected testimonies and the identities of those interviewed, which undermines the credibility of the report.
The DIDH expressed its discontent regarding the lack of impartiality by Amnesty International when processing data provided by Moroccan authorities.
The DIDH voiced its regret that Amnesty International failed again to acknowledge Morocco’s significant role in the management of migration.