Ceuta to Bury the Remains of Nine Moroccans Identified After Refusal to Transfer by Morocco

Authorities in Ceuta Prepare for Burial of Nine Moroccan Victims

The authorities in Ceuta are making arrangements to bury the remains of nine Moroccan citizens who tragically lost their lives at the Tarajal crossing. This somber decision comes after their identities have been confirmed but the Moroccan government has declined to accept their bodies for repatriation, as reported by reliable sources involved in the ongoing arrangements. Among the identified victims are six Moroccans: Younes, Abdel Salam, Nour Eddine, Abdel Momen, Ibrahim, and Salma. Local newspapers have noted that the Spanish Civil Guard verified their identities through fingerprinting and DNA samples provided by their relatives.

The six victims hailed from various Moroccan cities, including Fnideq, Larache, Tetouan, Asilah, and Ksar El Kebir. Their ages range from 20 to 26 years, with Abdel Salam being the eldest at 74 years old. He had spent many years working in Ceuta before the border closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Salma stands out as the only female among the recovered bodies, which were retrieved by the Spanish Civil Guard's special underwater activity team from the waters on the Spanish side of the Tarajal crossing.

A source close to the situation indicated that the decision to bury the nine bodies was made, and they are set to be laid to rest today at the Sidi Ambarak Islamic cemetery in Ceuta. Family members of some of the victims are expected to attend the burial ceremony unless there is a change in the Moroccan authorities' stance. The refusal to transfer the bodies to Morocco has left families devastated as they had hoped to bury their loved ones in their hometowns. This is particularly disheartening given that the identities of many were confirmed, and the related legal and administrative files were completed.

Moroccan Justice Minister Denies Claims of Refusal

Abdel Latif Wahbi, the Moroccan Minister of Justice, has refuted claims that Morocco is refusing to accept the remains of its citizens, clarifying that the Moroccan government opposes the execution of the transfer process in a haphazard or piecemeal manner. He emphasized the need to complete the identification and verification processes for all victims before any transfer can occur. In a previous interview with Al Arabiya, Wahbi stated that the Spanish authorities must provide a detailed medical report for each body to the Moroccan authorities so that necessary investigations can be conducted, ensuring proper identification before the completion of the handover process.

Wahbi linked the handling of the bodies to the establishment of a comprehensive and clear agreement with the Spanish side, which would include the repatriation of all Moroccan victims' remains as well as the return of living migrants, particularly minors, that Morocco is seeking to bring back. He added that Madrid has shown willingness to return the remains, but he noted a lack of similar intent regarding the return of living migrants, asserting that Morocco refuses to "fragment the case" and insists on a unified procedure with clear obligations on both sides.

The new burial follows the interment of another 18 victims just yesterday, raising the total number of bodies buried at Sidi Ambarak cemetery since last Friday to 78, according to local media reports in Ceuta. The bodies buried yesterday belonged to young individuals whose identities had not yet been confirmed and were transported in batches from the morgue to the cemetery. Representatives from health authorities were present, ensuring that the procedures followed were in accordance with guidelines for such cases.

Despite some victims being buried without names, the Spanish authorities maintain records for each body, including grave numbers assigned to them. This system allows for future identification and the eventual return of the remains to their families once identification procedures are completed. The Spanish Civil Guard has recovered approximately 90 bodies from the waters near the Tarajal crossing, while non-governmental organizations estimate that the total death toll from this tragedy exceeds 140 on both sides of the crossing, awaiting an official final report.

As reported by ar.telquel.ma.