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Rabat- Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged Spain to immediately stop summary deportations of migrants to Morocco from Melilla, and “investigate evidence that Guardia Civil officers beat migrants at the border fence.”
Benjamin Ward, deputy director of the Europe and Central Asia Division at Human Rights Watch, said that Spain’s right to secure its borders “doesn’t give it carte blanche to abuse migrants.”
Benjamin Ward called upon the Spanish government in Madrid and local authorities to stop what he described “illegal pushbacks.”
HRW said that returning migrants to Morocco without due process of law could put lives at risk. “Spain should stop these illegal pushbacks without delay.”
Benjamin Ward also urged Spain to “take action against any Guardia Civil officers who use excessive force against migrants.”
HRW’s call to Spain comes few days after over 1300 Sub-Saharan migrants stormed the six-meter-high triple fence that separates Morocco and Melilla.
HRW said that it received a video footage from a journalist that proves that migrants were beaten on the Spanish territory, inside the border by uniformed officers.
For that reason, HRW called on Spain to ensure that migrants are treated humanely on Spanish territory, and investigate evidence that Guardia Civil officers beat migrants at the border fence.
“The Spanish authorities should conduct a thorough investigation into these allegations of excessive use of force by Guardia Civil officers and hold anyone found responsible to account,” Ward said.
