Morocco's Human Rights Council condemns Algeria's use of bullets against Moroccans

The Moroccan National Human Rights Council condemned the use of live ammunition by Algerian Coast Guard forces in the eastern territorial waters of the Mediterranean against unarmed citizens, instead of taking the initiative, as internationally accepted, to provide relief and assistance to people lost at sea, considering it a serious violation of international standards and international human rights law.

In a statement, it reviews the events that occurred in the waters off Saidia last Tuesday: "Following the tragedy of the borders of the territorial waters in Saadia, in which the Algerian coast guard used the live ammunition, on Tuesday, August 29, 2023; which resulted in the death of two young Moroccans depriving them of their right to life; so that the corpse of one of them is still in Algeria, in addition to seriously attacking the physical integrity of a third young man who is still in resuscitation in Oujda and arresting a young Moroccan, sentenced to 18 months in prison, a delegation composed of Mohamed Laamarti, Chairman of the Regional Committee in the Eastern region, and some of its members and administrative staff, commissioned by the President of the National Council for Human Rights, has collected data and listened to the survivor Mohamed Kissi and the relatives of the victim Bilal Kissi who was buried in Morocco and the family of the deceased Abdelali Mechouar whose corpse is still in Algeria".

 
The communiqué makes a clear and sharp condemnation of the Algerian action: "Based on the preliminary data collected and the objective intersections, the National Council for Human Rights: 

-Denounces the use of live bullets by the Algerian coast guard forces in the eastern territorial waters of the Mediterranean Sea against unarmed citizens, instead of taking the initiative to save, as is universally known, render aid and assistance to persons lost at sea, thus being a serious violation of international standards and human rights.

- He asks why the Algerian maritime authorities have resorted to the use of live bullets and live ammunition against unarmed persons, who posed no threat or imminent danger to life.

- It underlines that what the victims have suffered is considered a serious violation of human rights and an abusive deprivation of the right to life, being an absolute right that must be protected, regardless of the circumstances, causes, motives and conditions; especially since the victims were on an unclear border line and in an uncontested maritime area.

- It should be recalled that saving the life of a human being at sea is a fundamental principle of international law that admits of no restrictions and prevails over all other considerations.

- It considers that the act committed by the Algerian Coast Guard constitutes a serious violation of international norms relating to the protection of life and safety of persons at sea, in particular the articles of the International Convention for the Protection of Life at Sea, adopted on November 1, 1974, and the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, adopted on 27 April 1979, as amended in 2004, in particular Articles 1, 2 and 3 of this Convention, as well as its express violation of Article 98 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, adopted on 10 December 1982.

-Emphasizes the legitimate right of Abdelali Mechouar's family to receive his corpse, so that they can honor and bury him according to Moroccan social and cultural customs.

-The Council was astonished by the speed of the judicial process of Ismael Sanabi, who has been sentenced to 18 months, and underlines the legitimacy of the demands of his family for his release and his referral to the Moroccan authorities.

-The Council will follow up the right of the survivor Mohamed Kissi and the families to recourse and access to justice.

- It registers the decision of the General Prosecutor's Office and asks it to publish the results of its investigations.

In this context of the tragedy, the National Council for Human Rights has written to the Algerian National Human Rights Institution to ensure that Ismael Nasabi, who is detained in Algeria, has all the guarantees of a fair and public trial and that two international observers can assist and guarantee his physical and psychological integrity.
The Council will closely follow the evolution of this tragedy and the application of the norms of international human rights law in all matters relating to it, in order to protect justice and the fundamental rights of redress of the victims and their families.
The Council delegation, on behalf of the President of the Council, the Secretary General and all its members, conveyed its condolences and sincere support to the families of this painful tragedy".