Tunisia Thwarts 13 Illegal Migration Operations

African migrants in a neighborhood in the Tunisian capital (EPA)

Tunisia’s Coast Guard units thwarted 13 irregular migration operations across the maritime borders during the weekend, and rescued 175 migrants of sub-Saharan African nationalities, according to a statement released by the Interior Ministry.
The statement said that illegal migration extended to the coasts of Sfax and Nabeul, where the coast guard units tracked the illegal activities of migrants from the Tunisian coast towards the Italian coast near Tunisia.
Also, the National Guard Marine District of Sfax arrested five wanted migrant smugglers and traffickers and seized 10 metal boats, in addition to eight outboard motors that were waiting to equip a number of boats to sail towards the Italian coast.
The coastguard units of Nabeul also foiled an irregular migration operation across the maritime borders and rescued 13 Tunisian migrants and a foreign girl.
The public prosecutor's office has ordered that the necessary legal measures be taken against them.
A number of human rights and local organizations call for prioritizing the humane treatment of illegal migrants, saying they are victims of the economic and security conditions in African and South American countries.
In this regard, President of the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights, Abdul Rahman al-Huthaili, said the wave of irregular migration will not stop as long as the issue is not well treated both in the countries of origin and the countries of reception.
He added that legitimizing abuses against migrants, and unlimitedly cooperating with a number of European countries, including Italy and France, to deport them forcibly and en masse, could not be a viable solution to the irregular migrant file.
Al-Huthaili also criticized the European bill to establish a comprehensive system of asylum procedures that was passed by the French Parliament last month to toughen rules for immigrants.
This bill encourages the adoption of a repressive policy, and a security approach against migrants, he said, adding that it also represents another step backwards in terms of respect for human rights.
Al-Huthaili said the bill encourages the adoption of a security approach to prevent the arrival of migrants to European territory, and establishes a solidarity system among EU countries to organize mass forced deportations, instead of cooperation to receive migrants.