'Ceuta crossing' conviction condemns Moroccan taxi drivers

A court in Tetouan, Morocco, has handed down a six-month suspended prison sentence and a 10,000 dirham fine to five first-class taxi drivers. The drivers were convicted of aiding irregular migration in connection with recent events in Ceuta, a Spanish enclave on Morocco's northern coast. The ruling has sparked significant anger and dismay among transport professionals in the sector.

Professional and union sources reported the verdicts, which the drivers and their representatives argue unfairly burden them with responsibilities not prescribed by law. The National Taxi Union's regional office in Tetouan stated that the court did not sufficiently consider the specific circumstances and exceptional nature of the events, nor the typical duties and legal limits of a taxi driver's role.

The union's statement emphasized that the drivers were merely performing their regular professional duties, transporting Moroccan citizens from Tetouan to Fnideq. This occurred during a period of large-scale movement of people towards the city, without any official decree prohibiting travel or imposing restrictions on passenger transport. The union stressed that taxi drivers lack the legal authority to inspect passenger identities, question their destinations or intentions, or demand identification documents.

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The court did not sufficiently consider the specific circumstances and exceptional nature of the events, nor the typical duties and legal limits of a taxi driver's role.

"The professional taxi driver is not a law enforcement or monitoring body," the union declared. They argued that drivers cannot substitute for security or administrative authorities in overseeing citizen movements or verifying intentions. The union appealed to the Court of Appeal to reconsider the sentences, seeking a just application of the law that respects the rights and legal boundaries of professionals.

The drivers intend to appeal the ruling at the Court of Appeal, maintaining their innocence and highlighting the legal limitations of their profession in controlling passenger movements. The case underscores the complex challenges faced by individuals caught in migration flows and the legal ambiguities surrounding their roles.

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The professional taxi driver is not a law enforcement or monitoring body.