HIBAPRESS – Ahmed Al-Masaid
The "Association for the Defense of Moroccans Victims of Forced Displacement from Algeria" called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad to include the humanitarian file of Moroccans expelled from Algeria in 1975 in the agenda of any future negotiations or diplomatic dialogues that may bring together Rabat and Algeria.
This came in an official letter addressed by the association to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, signed by the head of the human rights framework, Mohamed Al-Ati Allah, coinciding with the approaching of the fiftieth anniversary of these painful events. The letter explained that the fiftieth anniversary of this humanitarian tragedy brings back to the forefront the suffering of thousands of Moroccan families who were affected by a sudden mass deportation, stressing that the operations were accompanied by "serious violations that included arbitrary arrest, confiscation of real estate and commercial properties, and the scattering of family ties, in addition to the complete deprivation of civil and social rights." The human rights organization stressed that the legal, psychological, and economic repercussions of this issue are still ongoing and cast a shadow over the victims and their children, reiterating the demands for justice and compensation for collective and individual damages after decades without a comprehensive settlement. The association linked the raising of this file to the current diplomatic and regional dynamics; highlighting that the initiatives aimed at establishing stability and reconciliation in the Maghreb region, and the increasing international support for the Moroccan Sahara file, require the consideration of the outstanding humanitarian dimensions. "Any future initiatives to bring the views of the two neighboring countries closer should not be limited to purely political and security files, but should place the humanitarian dimension and the preservation of the collective memory of the victims of forced displacement at the heart of any dialogue, to ensure a real reconciliation based on justice and dignity." Excerpt from the letter. In a related context, the association urged Moroccan diplomacy to adopt this file and defend the rights of the victims to recover their property and redress their damages in accordance with international covenants and treaties related to human rights. It also demanded that the ministry support and accompany the advocacy efforts led by the association in international forums, especially within the mechanisms of the Human Rights Council of the United Nations and the specialized UN committees. The association concluded its letter by emphasizing that the redress of this group and the compensation for their damages constitutes "a symbolic and essential humanitarian step towards building a just and sustainable historical reconciliation that meets the aspirations of the two brotherly peoples."
