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Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on the Moroccan government to investigate the drowning deaths of at least 28 migrants, including children.
According to HRW, the African migrants drowned when their boat sank in the Mediterranean Sea off the African nation's coast.
According to initial reports of the incident, on 28 April, a Moroccan naval patrol intercepted the 9-metre inflatable boat that was carrying at least 70 people, including children.
The boat, which was allegedly heading for the Spanish coast, refused an order to return to the Moroccan coast.
Spanish newspaper El Pais said in its 7 May edition that someone on the patrol boat used a knife to puncture the boat.
Between 28 and 32 passengers, including four children, drowned before another naval boat could arrive and rescue the remaining passengers, HRW said.
Morocco denied that its navy deliberately sank the boat, saying the boat did not stop when ordered to do so.
"The Moroccan authorities need to investigate properly to find out what really happened," Bill Frelick, refugee policy director at HRW, said in a statement.
"If Moroccan sailors caused the boat to sink and allowed its passengers to drown, they should be prosecuted," he said.
An estimated 100,000 migrants cross the Mediterranean annually by boat to reach Europe, while an estimated 10,000 have died at sea over the past decade.
"Migrant deaths from overcrowding in un-seaworthy boats are tragically common, but deliberate sinking would be a grave crime," said Frelick.
"Any investigation worthy of the name should include the testimony of all available eyewitnesses, including survivors," he added.
According to HRW, the African migrants drowned when their boat sank in the Mediterranean Sea off the African nation's coast.
According to initial reports of the incident, on 28 April, a Moroccan naval patrol intercepted the 9-metre inflatable boat that was carrying at least 70 people, including children.
The boat, which was allegedly heading for the Spanish coast, refused an order to return to the Moroccan coast.
Spanish newspaper El Pais said in its 7 May edition that someone on the patrol boat used a knife to puncture the boat.
Between 28 and 32 passengers, including four children, drowned before another naval boat could arrive and rescue the remaining passengers, HRW said.
Morocco denied that its navy deliberately sank the boat, saying the boat did not stop when ordered to do so.
"The Moroccan authorities need to investigate properly to find out what really happened," Bill Frelick, refugee policy director at HRW, said in a statement.
"If Moroccan sailors caused the boat to sink and allowed its passengers to drown, they should be prosecuted," he said.
An estimated 100,000 migrants cross the Mediterranean annually by boat to reach Europe, while an estimated 10,000 have died at sea over the past decade.
"Migrant deaths from overcrowding in un-seaworthy boats are tragically common, but deliberate sinking would be a grave crime," said Frelick.
"Any investigation worthy of the name should include the testimony of all available eyewitnesses, including survivors," he added.
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