The Moroccan judiciary has closed the investigation into the tragedy at the border fence with Melilla that occurred on June 24, 2022, due to lack of criminal evidence. Citing sources in the public prosecutor's office, the Spanish news agency EFE reports that the investigation concluded that Moroccan forces used «proportionate force», aligning with the Spanish court ruling that held Madrid partially responsible for the deaths. On that day, 23 migrants died after more than 1,700 attempted to enter the Spanish enclave from the border crossing near Nador. The Moroccan Human Rights Association (AMDH) reported a higher death toll of 27 migrants, with 70 others missing. «Investigations revealed that the intervention by public forces aimed to repel the attack, address the existing danger, and maintain order through proportionate use of force, despite the aggressive and violent behavior of the migrants, their large numbers, and their possession of bladed weapons», sources from the Moroccan public prosecutor's office told EFE. These sources further explained that «injuries sustained by the migrants resulted from the attempt to force their way through the border post amidst intense jostling and overcrowding, as well as their attempts to climb the fence». «Testimonies from the migrants corroborate this explanation, along with the results of autopsies conducted on the deceased», the sources added. Following the crossing attempt, 61 migrants were sentenced to up to 3 years in prison. The judicial authorities also considered the views of civil society organizations during the investigation. Last weekend, the AMDH section in Nador reported that some of the victims were buried on the «instructions» of the public prosecutor's office after DNA samples were collected.
