Thirty-seven Moroccans have been deported from Algeria this week, marking the third such operation this year, amid a growing humanitarian crisis for families grappling with the detention of over 1,700 compatriots in Algerian prisons. The Moroccan Association for Assisting Migrants in Difficult Situations highlights the compounded challenges of legal fraud, administrative hurdles, and calls for a comprehensive amnesty to address the plight of those affected. DR ‹ › Thirty-seven Moroccans returned home this week after being handed over by Algerian authorities through the «Zouj Bghal» border crossing, as part of a new wave of deportations, according to the Moroccan Association for Assisting Migrants in Difficult Situations in Oujda. This marks the third such operation since the beginning of the year, at a time when field data points to an increasingly complex reality for hundreds of Moroccan families following the fate of relatives detained or stranded in Algeria, amid mounting legal and humanitarian challenges. In this context, Hassane Ammari, head of the association, told Yabiladi that several families have fallen victim to fraud by individuals posing as lawyers in Morocco or Algeria. These scammers exploit families' distress, promising information about their loved ones, only to provide false updates in exchange for money. He added that such practices often take place through social media, taking advantage of the vulnerability of families who «cling to any hope or information, which complicates the association's work and makes it difficult to track cases». More than 1,700 Moroccans in Algerian prisons Ammari also highlighted the difficulties families face in visiting detained relatives. Some parents, he said, have been denied entry into Algeria despite holding valid visas, while others are refused visas altogether. He called for the establishment of humanitarian corridors between the two countries to facilitate family visits. Other families, he added, have no information about the fate of their loved ones, exacerbating psychological and social distress amid complex administrative procedures resulting from severed diplomatic relations, despite the continued operation of Moroccan consulates in Sidi Bel Abbès, Oran, and Algiers. On a legal and psychological level, Ammari noted that many detainees had initially sought to improve their living conditions through migration, only to end up in Algerian prisons, sometimes facing «serious charges that could exceed ten years in prison, in addition to some being exploited in illegal activities». «The association is following more than 550 cases, while we have received information indicating that there are more than 1,700 Moroccans in Algerian prisons, without sufficient support to address this issue», he said. Calls for a comprehensive amnesty Regarding communication, Ammari said some families are occasionally able to contact their relatives through messages or with the association's mediation. In certain cases, solidarity networks have emerged between Moroccan and Algerian families, who help by visiting detainees or delivering «care packages». He added that the association's efforts have sometimes led to the release of detainees through presidential pardons, or to the release of patients after submitting medical files. However, these initiatives remain limited compared to the ongoing challenges surrounding the repatriation of Moroccans who died while attempting to migrate. In this regard, Ammari pointed to the continued complexity of repatriation procedures, which require «DNA testing to determine identity, along with multiple legal and administrative procedures», often causing significant delays. He explained that while the association assists with legal and administrative steps, families must cover technical costs, such as ambulances and permits, which can exceed 5,000 dirhams. Ammari concluded by noting that the association has sent a letter to Algerian authorities, including the presidency, calling for a general and comprehensive amnesty, particularly during national or religious occasions, to include Moroccan detainees and migrants from sub-Saharan African countries. He also urged authorities to ensure fair trials and expedite case processing, as hundreds of families continue to await news of their loved ones.
