Tourists from Morocco shot dead after straying into Algerian waters
Al JazeeraAUG 22 2023
On Monday, dozens of Moroccans rallied outside the parliament in Rabat to urge the government to challenge the Algerian state after its coast guard killed two tourists who allegedly crossed the maritime border between the two Mediterranean countries.
Organizations present at the protest, including the Moroccan Association for Citizenship and Human Rights, are reportedly mulling over filing a lawsuit in international courts against the leaders of the Algerian Army.
Separately, Morocco's National Council for Human Rights strongly condemned the Algerian coast guard for using live ammunition against unarmed civilians — deeming the incident a serious violation of human rights laws and international standards.
It's not only outrageous but criminal that Algerian coastguard officers have shot tourists who were trying to return to Morocco's Saidia resort after their jet skis mistakenly drifted to Algerian waters due to bad weather. International law recognizes the fundamental right of people in distress to receive help and bans the use of live-fire ammunition against unarmed civilians.
After previously intercepting three jet skis that conducted smuggling operations across Algerian territorial waters — in a border region that has experienced increased activity of drug trafficking gangs and organized crime — Algeria's coast guard issued an audible warning to the group several times but the passengers refused to comply and fled with dangerous maneuvers. While these deaths are undoubtedly tragic, authorities were left with no options.