Jamila Afelom recounted how she could only recognize her daughter, Fatin Ben Homar Azizi, by a necklace she had given her before she departed. Afelom discovered Fatin’s body in a hospital after Fatin’s attempt to reach the Spanish enclave of Ceuta by swimming from Morocco.
Describing her daughter as bold, determined, and somewhat tomboyish, Afelom remembered Fatin as a 26-year-old who often skipped school to play soccer, her greatest passion. Fatin trained with Coach Adel El Kaab of Moghreb Athletic Tétouan before joining Moghreb Atletico Tanger.
Despite warnings about the risks of irregular migration routes, many players, including Fatin, left for Europe in pursuit of a better future. Tragically, Fatin lost her life in the attempted crossing to Ceuta.
Afelom, a single mother, emphasized the economic hardship that pushed Fatin to seek a brighter future in Europe. Fatin’s family, devastated by her loss, found closure when her body was laid to rest in Tetouan.
The incident sheds light on the challenges faced by young Moroccans seeking better opportunities abroad amidst high youth unemployment rates in the country. The story of Fatin Ben Homar Azizi serves as a poignant reminder of the perils faced by migrants pursuing dreams of a new life in Europe.