A Moroccan Foreign Ministry official, Mohamed El Makouti, head of the Social Inclusion Department defended Morocco’s migration policy in response to activists calls to decriminalize irregular migration, during a meeting organized by the National Council for Human Rights.
Instead, he highlighted Morocco’s existing efforts to manage migration and the challenges the country faces due to its geographical location.
El Makouti emphasized Morocco’s commitment to regularizing the status of migrants and pointed out a program that has successfully legalized the status of over 50,000 migrants since 2013.
He also defended Morocco’s criminalization of irregular migration, aligning it with the practices of European countries and citing the need to protect national sovereignty.
But, he acknowledged the challenges displaced people face when fleeing conflict and climate issues.
Despite defending the criminalization of irregular migration, the official stressed Morocco’s commitment to a humanitarian approach and highlighted the country’s program to manage migrant flows and combat human trafficking.
He also explained that Morocco reopened its refugee office in response to a rise in asylum applications and supports those seeking international protection.
El Makouti addressed accusations of “forced transfers” of irregular migrants and explained these measures as interventions necessary to ensure security and public order when large groups gather in unsafe locations.
He clarified that authorities take steps to verify the status of individuals to avoid harming those with regularized status.
El Makouti emphasized Morocco’s legal framework protecting vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, children, and asylum seekers, from deportation. He highlighted the government’s commitment to respecting human rights for all citizens and foreigners alike.
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