BY: Hana Saada

ALGIERS- The European Council called on Spain to review its relations with the Moroccan Makhzen regime over its blatant violation of human rights, just two days after the decision of the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry on the “Pegasus” espionage scandal, by classifying the case as a criminal case and transferring it to the European police.

The European Council has urged Spain to review its relations with Morocco amid the ongoing migrant crisis. Its decision came in the context of the brutal treatment of African illegal immigrants by the Moroccan police and gendarmerie at the walls of the occupied city of Melilla on June 24 and on previous occasions, which is considered a flagrant violation of human rights under European law.

In a report published on Wednesday, May 10, the European Council, a body made up of the heads of state and government of the member states of the European Union, demanded that Spain, as a member state of the Union, “suspend all joint activities that lead to human rights violations” in the Kingdom of Morocco.

The European Parliament issued this shocking report on the Moroccan detention center system following a visit by the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunya Mijatovic, to Spain last November, which included the city of Melilla, a visit that revealed to the European official the extent of the cruelty and brutality with which the Moroccan police and gendarmerie deal with migrants.

Earlier, the European Council condemned Morocco’s ill-treatment of migrants as it pertains to their inhumane living conditions, abuse by security forces, and violation of human rights. The council, in its statement, highlighted that human dignity must be upheld when dealing with migrants and called on Morocco to ensure compliance with international law. Such ill-treatment is a violation of human rights, and the European Union will not tolerate such actions.

It is vital for all nations to uphold the rights of migrants. Immigration is a complex issue that cannot be solved overnight. There are humanitarian and moral responsibilities that governments must adhere to, and migrants should be treated with respect and dignity. They deserve access to safe and secure living conditions, education, healthcare, and protection from abuse. These basic needs should be provided by countries that either house or interact with immigrants. Failure to adhere to these basic rights is deemed unacceptable, and the European Council has taken a range of stances in condemning such actions.

For their part, the Moroccan authorities have been known to enforce harsh treatment of illegal migrants. They are subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention, and deportation without due process. They are also vulnerable to human trafficking, sexual violence, and other forms of abuse.

The harsh treatment of illegal migrants by Moroccan authorities is a matter of concern to the international community. It is essential to uphold the human rights of migrants. There is a need for Morocco to adopt a more humane approach towards these individuals and provide them with due process and basic needs.