Amnesty International accuses Spanish troops of abusing migrants in Ceuta

09:30

By: Azzat Manal

Amnesty International accuses Spanish troops of abusing migrants in Ceuta

Amnesty International has accused members of the Spanish armed forces of subjecting migrants and asylum seekers in Ceuta to violence, humiliation and other forms of alleged ill-treatment following the mass arrival of migrants in the Spanish enclave in late July. The organization said some of the incidents documented during its latest field investigation could amount to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.

The rights group said it conducted an investigation in Ceuta between September 10 and 15, speaking to more than 65 migrants and asylum seekers. Among them were 31 minors and 26 women, including two pregnant women. Amnesty said it collected 22 direct testimonies describing alleged beatings, harassment, humiliation and the confiscation or destruction of personal belongings by military personnel.

According to the organization, several testimonies referred specifically to members of Spain’s Regulares units and Legion. Amnesty said it also reviewed photographs, videos and medical documentation that it considers consistent with some of the allegations. Among the cases cited were two Moroccan youths who reportedly suffered head injuries that appeared compatible with blows from rigid batons.

Other testimonies described alleged physical assaults against migrants who said they had been restrained. Amnesty also documented claims of threats, intimidation and pressure intended to encourage migrants to leave Ceuta. The organization said women were also among those who reported verbal humiliation and alleged sexual harassment.

The investigation comes after more than 72,000 migrants entered Ceuta from Morocco during the mass crossing at the end of July, according to Spanish authorities and international reporting. Although most subsequently returned to Morocco, thousands of people have remained in the enclave, including minors and asylum seekers, putting additional pressure on reception facilities and local authorities.

Amnesty International has also raised concerns about the living conditions of migrants still sleeping outdoors and the difficulties faced by unaccompanied children and vulnerable women. The organization has called on Spanish and Ceuta authorities to provide adequate humanitarian assistance and ensure that vulnerable people have access to appropriate protection and accommodation.

The organization urged the Spanish authorities to carry out a prompt, independent and impartial investigation into the allegations. It also called for measures to prevent excessive use of force and for individual legal procedures to be respected in cases involving migrants and people seeking international protection.

The allegations have prompted an official response from Spain. The Defence Ministry said it had referred Amnesty International’s report to prosecutors and to the investigating court in Ceuta, while also ordering an internal inquiry to establish whether individual members of the armed forces could be held responsible, Reuters reported.

The Spanish authorities are facing a wider debate over their response to the unprecedented migration influx. The government has been examining changes to asylum and return procedures, while rights organizations have warned that any accelerated process must remain consistent with Spain’s legal and international obligations.

Amnesty International stressed that its findings are based on interviews, supporting material and field observations and that the allegations still require investigation by the competent authorities. The Defence Ministry’s decision to refer the claims to prosecutors and launch an internal investigation could therefore provide the basis for determining whether the reported incidents involved individual misconduct or broader failures in the treatment of migrants in Ceuta.