Colombian Sailors Allege Abuse in Moroccan Custody After Arrest in Rabat

Barona has been working for several years on a cargo ship to other countries. After several days of sea travel, he and his companions arrive in Rabat and settle in an apartment. From there, they were arrested and "forcibly" taken away by the police, reports the local site chicanoticias.

The Colombian claims they were taken to a police station where they were "beaten and tortured". "They found nothing on us, no weapons or drugs, and we have our papers in order," he said. They were then taken to prison "where their rights have been constantly violated," he denounces.

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"They made us sign an Arabic document whose content we did not understand. Here, life is hell on a daily basis because they beat us, torture us, and subject us to humiliation. We don’t know what they are accusing us of and we have not been tried. Days go by and we fear the worst," Barona added.

The situation is so unbearable for Barona and his two companions that they have considered suicide. They denounce the indifference of the consular office in Morocco, which has taken no action to help them, and call on the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to intervene to repatriate them.