argia.eus
INPRIMATU
Activist Helena Maleno denounces the "brutal deportation" of Morocco to Spain
  • Walking Borders has denounced the expulsion of the human rights activist of migrants, without explaining why.
Oihane Arretxea Bereziartua @oihane_arretxea 2021eko apirilaren 14a
Argazkia: EdgarApp

Helena Maleno, a human rights activist, was extradited to Spain by the Moroccan police on 23 January. This has been denounced by Walking Frontiers at a press conference held at the Government’s headquarters in Madrid.

Moroccan justice began its investigation of Maleno in 2015 and in 2017 was re-investigated after the Spanish police sent a file on migrant smuggling in response to Maleno's usual relief calls to Salvamento Marí timo.En March 2019, the activist announced in a court in Tangier the file of his cause, but this January has been deported and has denounced what happened three months later.

Malene lived in Morocco for the last twenty years, but when he arrived at Tangier airport on 23 January he had at his disposal a group of policemen to rescue him from his wounds. Suddenly, without claiming any cause, he was forced into an airplane heading to Barcelona. In a video posted on social media, he denounced that during the trip they did not give him the opportunity to take the medicines he needed and that he has separated himself from his daughter.

Maleno, who has also denounced death threats and harassment, has accused the Central Unit for False Documentation and Illegal Immigration of the National Police and the Moroccan Police of being behind these attacks.

As they explained at a press conference, thanks to Maleno's commitment, "more than 100,000 migrants have been saved at our borders" and recalled that the UN and the major international human rights organisations have applauded their work. In addition, Andaluza has received more than 20 awards in favor of national and international human rights, and has recently been appointed Honoris Causa by the University of the Balearic Islands.

They have therefore asked the president of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, to make "public recognition" for his work, for his contribution to democracy and the rule of law. They have also asked him to "protect" Maleno and his family, and to repair "the incalculable damages caused" against both the entrepreneur and his closest environment.