HIBAPRESS – Mohammed Zerouih
The Nador branch of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights announced that on September 30, 2026, the court issued judicial rulings against 18 youths who were prosecuted on criminal charges in two separate cases related to attempting to cross to the city of Melilla, sentencing each of them to three years of effective imprisonment.
The association branch explained that in one of the cases, the court also ordered the convicts to pay civil compensation amounting to 713,520 dirhams to the General Directorate of National Security, in addition to civil compensation of 20,000 dirhams for the benefit of the other civil claimants.
Commenting on these rulings, the Nador branch of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights noted their issuance in the complete absence of the defense team, which was on strike, considering it a serious violation of one of the fundamental guarantees of a fair trial, namely the right to defense.
In the same context, the association branch affirmed its determination to continue closely following this case, announcing that the branch's defense team will join in pleading for these youths during the appeal stage as soon as lawyers resume their work, in defense of their rights and to ensure fair trial conditions.
In conclusion, the Nador branch of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights renewed its demand for the release of the arrested youths in connection with the events of attempting to cross to Melilla, calling for a final end to the judicial prosecutions related to these events.
