The mother of former Moroccan footballer Abdellatif Akhrif has made a heartfelt plea to the Algerian authorities for the return of her son’s body. In an emotionally charged video, she asked Algeria to allow her to bury her son after his tragic death at sea in July.
Akhrif, a former winger for Ittihad Tangier, went missing off the coast of M’diq, northern Morocco, during a yacht trip with four teammates.
The disappearance was initially met with widespread concern. Tragically, on August 8, it was confirmed that his body had been found by the Algerian navy near Oran, approximately 425km from where he was last seen. At the age of 24, he was officially declared dead.
Since that time, however, the return of his body has become a point of contention. According to multiple sources, predominantly from Morocco, the Algerian authorities have delayed the process of repatriation, leading to accusations that the remains have been withheld, or even confiscated.
Some Moroccan reports suggest that these delays may be politically motivated, as tensions between the two countries have been marked by longstanding disagreements.
In the emotional video, Akhrif’s mother, overcome with grief, shared her desperate wish to give her son a proper burial.
“Alhamdulillah, I have submitted to the divine decree, but my heart bleeds from not being able to kiss my son’s grave one last time. I beg my Algerian Muslim brothers to give me back my child’s body,” she sobbed.
Mourad Elajouti, president of the Moroccan Lawyers Club, also spoke out, criticizing the situation. “By holding Abdellatif Akhrif’s body, who do we want to punish? And what message do we want to send? That of superiority? This attitude is the exact opposite of the values of Islam. Let’s release him so that his family can mourn with dignity.”
The ongoing dispute over the return of Akhrif’s body has added to the strained political relationship between Morocco and Algeria.
While allegations against Algeria are met with skepticism by some, the situation remains a deeply sensitive issue for the Akhrif family and many Moroccans, who see the lack of action as a further act of retaliation in the wider geopolitical context.
3 mois que la mort sépare cette maman de son fils. Le corps d’Abdellatif Akhrif est prisonnier en Algérie. Quelle cruauté de priver les siens d’une sépulture digne. Le silence assourdissant face à cette injustice est insupportable. Est ce cela L’islam ? pic.twitter.com/XCnpYPYu4D
— Mourad Elajouti (@Elajouti) December 4, 2024
