Rabat, Morocco – On the 50th anniversary of the humanitarian tragedy that shook the Maghreb in 1975, the International Collective for the Support of Families of Moroccan Origin Expelled from Algeria renewed its efforts.
He called on the Algerian authorities to break the silence and issue a formal
and public apology for the “arbitrary decision” that targeted thousands of Moroccan families.
Memory against forgetting: Rights that do not expire with time
Under the slogan “Memory against forgetting, for the recognition of the rights of Moroccan families expelled from Algeria in 1975”
The group issued a strongly worded statement to mark the 50th anniversary
of the start of the expulsions on December 8 of that year.
The group emphasized in its statement key demands including an official apology and recognition
by the Algerian state of its political and legal responsibility for the forced displacement process.
Compensation for material and moral damages
The group stressed the need to return all properties, funds, and assets that were confiscated illegally.
Fair compensation is the redress of material and moral damages suffered by victims
and their families as a result of the suffering they endured.
The group emphasized the continued recourse to UN mechanisms
and international organizations to provide redress for the victims and achieve justice.
Recalling the tragedy of 45,000 Moroccans
The statement recalled the details of that bitter era, when the Algerian security services
expelled more than 45,000 Moroccan citizens who were residing legally.
The operation was carried out suddenly and humiliatingly, with individuals being
forcibly removed from their homes and workplaces.
They are gathered in temporary centers before being taken to the border in harsh humanitarian conditions.
Crimes against family ties
The same source highlighted that the tragedy did not differentiate between young and old,
but even affected mixed marriages (Moroccan-Algerian).
This led to the dispersal of thousands of families and the separation of children from their parents.
The statement pointed to the “cruel timing,” as the forced deportation
took place in the heart of a harsh winter.
Just a few days before Eid al-Adha, and without any prior warning or legal justification.
50th Anniversary Commemoration Program
The international group announced that it will continue to implement
its special program to commemorate this anniversary throughout December 2025.
This is with the aim of highlighting this “human rights crime”
and ensuring that it remains alive in the international collective memory.
He stressed that justice remains the only option to heal the wounds of the past.
