Paul Murphy Condemns 'Mass Murder' at Morocco-Spanish Enclave Border
Paul Murphy spoke in parliament about the deaths of refugees at the border between Morocco and the Spanish enclave of Malia, calling the killings "mass murder" and blaming EU border policies. He demanded condemnation and an investigation, and criticised EU funding to Morocco for border management.
Border deaths
The deputy described videos and pictures showing dozens of refugees fleeing war and oppression crushed and beaten to death attempting to cross the border fence at Malia. He cited NGO reports that at least 37 people have died, with many more injured, and called the events mass murder.
EU funding and policy criticised
Murphy pointed to recent EU public funding of 100 million euros to Morocco to support border management and said NGOs view this as a tragic symbol of policies that externalise the EU's borders. He characterised the EU's approach as "fortress Europe" and questioned why people fleeing persecution who are black and brown do not receive the same rights as those coming from other countries.
Call for condemnation and investigation
The deputy directly asked the Taoiseach to condemn the deaths at the Morocco-Malia border and to support an investigation into the killings. He said he had not received answers to those questions and pressed for accountability for the families of the victims.
Parliamentary exchange and accusations
In response, the Taoiseach defended the EU as a humanitarian actor, accusing Murphy of consistent anti-European rhetoric. Murphy accused the government and the EU of enabling authoritarian regimes and asserted that EU policy effectively pays for Moroccan border guards to kill migrants, while also accusing a fellow deputy of being a propagandist.
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I wonder have you seen the pictures and the videos from last Friday at the border between Morocco and the Spanish enclave of Malia? Dozens of refugees fleeing war and oppression were crushed to death against the border fences. Others were beaten to death by Border Patrol all to stop them getting into the EU where they could claim refugee status. This was mass murder of refugees trying to flee persecution. NGOs are saying that at least 37 people have died, it could be more. Many, many more were injured trying to pass through. This is the responsibility of the EU. The EU recently announced funding of 100 million euros of EU public funds to Morocco to quote support border management. To quote the NGOs this is a tragic symbol of European policies to externalize the EU's border. The two-faced and racist border policies of the EU is on display for all to see. Why shouldn't black and brown people fleeing from persecution and war have exactly the same rights as those correctly fleeing from so-called white or Christian countries like Ukraine have? Taoiseach, will you condemn the murder of refugees on the border of Morocco and the Spanish enclave of Malia? And will you condemn the fortress Europe policies which lead to these deaths? First of all, I think your anti-Europeanism is shocking and your anti-EU position which is so consistent. Always seeking to undermine the European Union despite the fact that the European Union of any actor in the world is the most humanitarian. Contribute most on humanitarian issues to the neighbourhood. And all it gets is attack, attack, attack. You have consistently attacked Europe. You don't consistently attack Russia. You don't consistently attack Russia. You do not. You have previously said that all that we do. You have always, through the chair, used the opportunity to attack the European Union. Be it vaccines, be it helping Ukraine, be it in relation to migration. Can you talk about the refugees? Of all the actors in the world, if you go through any of the data, analyse it objectively, does more than anybody else in terms of trying to look after people and provide for people. That is the reality of what is happening. And in relation to Deputy Smith, Will you talk about the refugees? Did you see the videos? Will you condemn the policy? You cannot just move on and say how great Europe is. Do you support an investigation into the murders? I have the floor now. I have made my points. You have not answered. You did not answer the questions at all. I have dealt with your ceaseless propaganda against the European Union. What do you say to the families of people who have died because of fortress Europe policies? I say to the authorities in which many of these reside. You should attack those authorities. But the EU is funding them. Who create an authoritarian regime and who create conditions that make life impossible for people. It is EU policy. It is EU policy to pay for Moroccan border guards to kill the migrants. It is EU policy. Europe has a migration policy. It has frontier management. Every authority in the world has a migration policy and manages migration. But the bottom line is this authoritarianism is undermining the world. It is creating... Here you go again, interrupting. There are other people who have asked questions. You should have the good faith to allow me answer other deputies. Just because you do not like the answer. Because you are a propagandist at heart. You are a propagandist at heart. You are a propagandist at heart. You lack objectivity in every presentation you make.
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