Human rights groups are calling for an end to the surge of hate speech and racism directed at immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa in the Maghreb region.
The group’s statement comes after Tunisian President Kais Saied urged the cessation of immigration to Tunisia. The organizations argue that this rhetoric is similar to that of far-right political movements in Western nations and aims to manipulate public discourse surrounding immigration in Morocco and the Maghreb.
However, official data disproves exaggerated claims about the number of immigrants in the region, and the groups urge that any debate about migration should be guided by universal human rights principles.
The organizations also call for an end to security campaigns and forcible deportations, which endanger migrants’ lives and contravene Morocco’s obligations under international human rights treaties.
They also call on the Moroccan government to prioritize the rights and dignity of migrants over its relationship with the European Union and Spain, the groups also appeal to civil society, intellectuals, and researchers to take collective action to dismantle racist discourse and uphold the rights of migrants and refugees.