Casablanca- The Moroccan Authorities decided to deport a group of Syrian citizens who had tried to reach the Moroccan territory via Algeria.
According to Yabiladi, the group, composed of 21 people, had tried to reach the Moroccan territory from the Algerian border, but were caught by the Moroccan police.
The group of Syrian citizens, composed of men, women and children, fled from Algeria to the Moroccan city of Saidia on the Moroccan-Algerian border and were taken to the Saaidia police station. They were then transported by bus to Mohammed V Airport in Casablanca after spending 8 days in Saidia.
The members of the Syrian group requested asylum in Morocco and objected to being deported but the authorities denied their request.
According to Al Massae newspaper, the deportation took place today on Monday despite appeals by human rights associations. The Syrians were promised that they would be deported to Lebanon, but they expressed concern that they would be taken to Turkey instead.
The father of the family, Akil Kassim said in an interview with Yabiladi that he refused to take the plane to Turkey. He defended his right to stay in Morocco and not be deported to Turkey.
“We refuse to take a plane to Turkey. I defended our right to stay in Morocco. We want to live here and not return to Turkey,” he was quoted by Yabiladi as saying.
Edited by Elisabeth Myers
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