Stranded Moroccans Protest at Istanbul Airport, Demand Evacuation to Morocco

A chaotic atmosphere prevailed this Saturday at Istanbul airport, reported the site Al Oumk. Some people were surprised not to find their names on the day’s list, even though they had been invited by consular officials to join the airport.

"We have been stuck here for 4 months, and we have our passport and our return ticket. We have been sleeping at the airport for 3 days without anything," said a Moroccan woman, relayed by the media, blaming an official who, according to her, would have been corrupt.

For his part, a 61-year-old man said he was fed up with the situation "I am a Moroccan citizen without any value. My wife will soon run out of medication, and I had to contact the embassy 5 times, but without any response. The state does not give us any importance and we ignore the embassy’s selection criteria."

For the Moroccan journalist and activist within the Arab Community Council in Istanbul, Ayoub Salim, the situation is critical, and "the dignity of the Moroccan citizen is not respected at Istanbul airport."

The activist called on the authorities to intervene quickly to evacuate urgent cases including pregnant women and people expected to be at the top of the list. "We still don’t know who is setting up the lists? Is it the ministry or the consulate?" he wondered.