A Moroccan court sentences 33 migrants to 11 months in prison for trying to cross the Melilla fence

MADRID, 20 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Court of First Instance of Nador has sentenced this Tuesday a group of 33 migrants to 11 months in prison for their alleged participation in relation to the massive assault on the Melilla fence on June 24 and in which they died at least 23 migrants.

The migrants have been accused of "organizing and facilitating the illegal entry and exit of people in Morocco, for insulting public officials in the exercise of their functions, and for exercising violence against them, as well as disobedience," according to the Association. Moroccan Human Rights Council (AMDH, for its French acronym) of Nador, in a statement accessed by Alyaoum24.

AMDH, which has closely followed the file, has considered that "the sentence handed down is very harsh against asylum seekers who were only seeking protection."

In this context, another trial is expected to be held on July 27 for another 32 migrants prosecuted by the Nador Court of Appeal and accused of "organizing and facilitating the regular entry and exit of foreigners" in Morocco and for "exercising violence against members of the public force in the performance of their duties, disobedience and armed assembly", as reported by the aforementioned media.

At least 23 migrants died after the massive attempt by more than 2,000 sub-Saharans to cross the Melilla fence on June 24, according to a report by local Moroccan authorities.

This information differs from that offered by AMDH from Nador, which through its social networks assured that the death toll of immigrants in Nador amounted to 27.