Moroccan Victims Seek Justice for 1975 Algerian Expulsion

In El Aâti Allah’s view, the forced and collective displacement that affected thousands of Moroccan citizens legally residing in Algeria constitutes one of the most serious human rights violations, leaving psychological, social and economic scars that are still present today. The victims were deprived of their rights and property, their properties and salaries were confiscated, and the forced displacement led to the separation of spouses, the deprivation of children from their parents, as well as cases of arrest, torture and enforced disappearance during expulsion to Morocco, he specifies in a statement.

El Aâti Allah is convinced that the issuance of a recommendation by the National Human Rights Council, as a constitutional institution, would confer official legitimacy to the case and strengthen the legitimate claims of the victims in terms of reparation and restitution of confiscated rights and property. This recommendation would also help to place this issue among the priorities of the public debate and national policies relating to justice and human dignity.

His association calls on the Council to "condemn the collective and forced displacement of Moroccan citizens in 1975, as well as the serious human rights violations that accompanied it, and to qualify these criminal acts as crimes against humanity in accordance with the applicable international laws and standards". It is convinced that the Council, faithful to its commitment to the causes of justice and equity, will give this appeal all the necessary attention, in the service of the law, in reparation for the Moroccan victims of Algeria and in tribute to their collective and legal memory, added the same source.