Casablanca, Morocco — A resounding call for Spain to acknowledge and apologize for the deployment of chemical weapons during the Rif War in the 1920s has been reignited by the World Amazigh Assembly (AMA), a Moroccan group championing cultural rights and identity. The appeal follows recent comments by King Felipe VI on Spain’s colonial history, particularly in Mexico, which sparked a new wave of discussion about past abuses.
In a letter to King Felipe VI, the AMA requested recognition of “colonial-era abuses, “including the verified use of mustard gas against civilians in the Rif region. This request comes in the wake of the King’s statements during a visit to Madrid’s National Archaeological Museum, where he acknowledged that certain historical events “cannot make us feel proud “when viewed through contemporary values. However, he emphasized the need for historical context and rigorous analysis.
Rachid Raha Mimoun, the president of the AMA, emphasized the need for official recognition from Spain, stating that the use of mustard gas has had lasting health repercussions. He cited data indicating that nearly 80% of cancer patients treated in Rabat hospitals are from Northern Morocco, a region heavily affected by the chemical attacks. Mimoun shared personal loss, noting that several family members, including his father, uncles, and cousins, succumbed to cancer.
The AMA’s appeal also seeks collective reparations, including investments in healthcare infrastructure and oncology treatment facilities in the region. The letter points to specific sites, such as La Marañosa near Madrid and a former gas plant in Beni Ensar on the border with Melilla, as locations of chemical weapons production.
The impact of the Rif War continues to resonate in Northern Morocco, particularly in families from areas that were subjected to chemical bombardment. Historical records, as documented in “Chemical Weapons of Mass Destruction over the Rif “by jurist Mimoun Charqi, reveal the authorization of mustard gas attacks in the region. The legacy is further underscored by the patient flow to Rabat’s oncology hospital, where a significant number of adult and child cancer patients are from the Rif areas targeted during the war.
This is not the first time the AMA has raised this issue. The group first wrote to Felipe VI in 2015 and has since met with Spanish embassy officials in Rabat, presenting historical documentation. The call for recognition has also entered the realm of Spanish politics, with the left-wing coalition Sumar introducing a non-binding motion in parliament to address Spanish colonialism in Morocco.
Despite these efforts, no substantial response has been received from Spanish officials, including those previously in office and the current Foreign Affairs Minister, José Manuel Albares. The AMA remains hopeful that official acknowledgment could pave the way for reconciliation between Morocco and Spain, particularly as the two nations prepare to co-host the 2030 World Cup alongside Portugal.
Source: moroccoworldnews
Original author: Oumaima Moho Amer
