Six Moroccan citizens have been held in detention in Somalia for over two years, even after being exonerated from terrorism charges several months ago. The families of these detainees, along with human rights advocates, are calling on Moroccan officials to take immediate action to facilitate their return home. This pressing issue was brought to light during a recent press conference organized by the Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH), which expressed serious concerns regarding the detainees' legal and humanitarian conditions. The situation has escalated, as the men have reportedly begun a hunger strike, raising alarm about their well-being.
Khadija Riyadi, a representative of the AMDH, emphasized the clarity of the men's legal status, asserting, "They have no issues with anyone, and it is the Moroccan authorities’ responsibility to bring them home." The six men were apprehended in early 2024 in the Cal Miskaat mountains, situated in Puntland, a semi-autonomous region in northeastern Somalia. They were allegedly enticed to the region under the guise of false job opportunities. Initially, authorities suspected that they were trying to affiliate with extremist organizations operating in the area.
In March 2024, a military court in Bosaso sentenced these individuals to death by firing squad. However, this conviction was later overturned, and the men were acquitted of all charges. Following their acquittal, a court ordered their expulsion within a timeline of 18 months, a deadline that has since lapsed without any movements towards repatriation.
Advocates for the detainees argue that all necessary legal steps for their return have already been accomplished. Officials from the International Committee of the Red Cross have been in contact with the detainees and have assisted in navigating the required administrative processes. Abdelillah Ben Abdessalam, another advocate, stated, "The Moroccan authorities now need to provide travel documents and permits to bring them home," highlighting that there are no legal obstacles preventing their return.
The AMDH has reached out to Morocco’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Human Rights Council concerning this case; however, they have yet to receive a response from the ministry. The council has confirmed that it has communicated the AMDH's concerns to the government. Families of the detainees assert that the men had no prior links to extremist groups and traveled abroad independently in search of employment opportunities. One father mentioned that the detainees did not know each other prior to their arrest, while another relative described her brother as a craftsman devoid of any history of political or militant involvement.
Puntland authorities have previously cited a lack of coordination with Moroccan officials as a reason for the delay in repatriation. According to a Somali lawyer representing one of the detainees, no formal request for repatriation has been submitted by the Moroccan government. With the legal proceedings concluded and acquittals granted, rights organizations contend that the onus is now on Rabat to ensure the safe return of these men to their homeland.
As reported by en.hespress.com.
