Killed in a boat : Human Rights Watch urges Morocco to investigate the tragedy

International organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) reacted on Thursday, 27th of September, to the death of a young Moroccan migrant who was shot by the Royal Navy while on a boat reaching for Spain.

In a communiqué sent to Yabiladi, the NGO recalled that «on September the 25th, the Moroccan Navy opened fire on a boat in the Mediterranean, killing a 20-year-old Moroccan woman and injuring three others, who apparently were trying to emigrate to Europe».

HRW also wrote that MAP news agency said that the coastguard opened fire on a boat after it acted suspiciously and refused to obey. «Nothing proves that the boat's passengers were a threat», said Sarah Leah Whiston, the Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch.

For her, «the authorities have committed to investigate this serious incident; they should do so immediately, publicly disclose their findings, and bring those responsible to justice».

For the record, the Moroccan Association of Human Rights in addition to the North Observatory for Human Rights were «shocked» by the incident that took the life of a young Moroccan woman when the Royal Navy opened fire on a boat heading to Spain, from the Fnideq coast.