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Moroccan justice has increased the sentences to three years in prison once morest 14 migrants arrested in June before a massive attempt to enter the city of Melilla, their lawyer said on Friday.
Mbarek Bouirig declared that the Court of Appeal of Nador (north-east) had “decided to increase the sentences once morest this group from 8 months to three years”.
He called the decision “unfortunate and exaggerated”, noting that the migrants had “denied in court having committed acts of violence”.
The 14 migrants, mostly Sudanese, were sentenced in particular for “illegal entry” into Morocco, “belonging to a criminal gang of illegal immigration” and use of “violence once morest public officials”, said the defense.
They were arrested on June 23 by Moroccan security forces during an operation near Nador, a border town of Melilla, in Moroccan territory.
These arrests took place the day before an attempt by nearly 2,000 migrants to enter Melilla by force.
The tragedy killed 23 migrants, according to Moroccan authorities.
Since this tragedy, several dozen migrants have been sentenced in separate groups to prison terms at first instance, which have been systematically increased.