Amnesty International Reports Alarming Military Assaults on Migrants in Ceuta
In a troubling revelation made on Thursday, Amnesty International (AI) has documented an alarming total of 50 cases of alleged assaults by military personnel against migrants in Ceuta, following a massive influx of people from Morocco in July. The organization emphasizes that 18 of these assaults occurred after the Spanish Ministry of Defense announced an investigation into previous allegations raised by AI back in September. To further support their claims, the organization submitted to the judiciary audios published by eldiario.es, in which military personnel can be heard boasting about their violent actions against migrants in Ceuta.
Esteban Beltrán, the director of Amnesty International Spain, articulated his concerns during an interview with "Las Mañanas de RNE," stating, "We are unaware if any action has been taken since then regarding the cases reported. Just yesterday, we submitted a comprehensive letter to the Public Prosecutor indicating that these alleged crimes are extremely serious and require investigation ex officio. We have yet to receive any response from the Prime Minister or the President of Ceuta to our initial correspondence, where we began collecting information." Beltrán emphasized the need for protecting affected individuals and witnesses from expulsion if they come forward to report abuses.
Since the surge of migrants on July 30 and 31, Amnesty International has visited Ceuta twice to gather information on human rights violations. During their visits between September 10-15 and October 23-26, they documented 22 and 28 cases, respectively, involving beatings, humiliation, and abuse, affecting even 13 minors. These acts of violence have primarily been attributed to military personnel, as well as members of the National Police and Civil Guard, often occurring during operations aimed at removing migrants from their sleeping areas. Beltrán expressed deep concern regarding the impunity with which these military personnel operate, noting instances where individuals were assaulted multiple times, sometimes by groups of 17 or 18 soldiers.
Urgent Calls for Accountability and Investigation
Amnesty International's report indicates a pattern of frequent beatings and assaults involving punches, kicks, baton strikes, and even the use of tasers by military personnel against defenseless individuals sleeping on the streets. These incidents, which have escalated since their initial investigation published on September 30, have resulted in severe injuries among migrants, including fractures, contusions, and lacerations. Victims have reported being violently awakened during nighttime assaults, leading to significant physical and emotional trauma.
Beltrán pointed out that the military personnel involved in these violent acts do not appear to have been reassigned, as evidenced by testimonies collected by AI, where victims recognized their aggressors and reported threats made to silence them. The organization has called for a prompt, impartial, independent, and thorough investigation into these allegations of abuse against migrants, urging that the implicated military personnel be suspended from their duties during the investigation process.
In their extensive report, AI provides detailed accounts of various incidents, including one harrowing case of a father of three who was awakened in the early hours by a taser weapon applied to his chest. He suffered multiple shocks that left him disoriented, and when he attempted to flee, he fell and sustained facial injuries. Another account details a 40-year-old Tunisian man who was punched in the face by soldiers while sleeping on the beach, resulting in a bruise that temporarily impaired his vision. These personal stories highlight the severe and ongoing human rights violations taking place in Ceuta.
Additionally, the central government recently announced efforts to dismantle temporary migrant reception centers in Ceuta, linking this decision to the reported return of 14,818 migrants to Morocco, primarily through voluntary repatriations. As of now, there are approximately 3,650 minors within the regional protection system, while local authorities estimate that around 15,000 individuals remain in the city. However, Amnesty International has raised concerns that at least 500 unaccompanied minors are still sleeping on the streets, awaiting essential support and shelter, all while facing ongoing threats of abuse and violence.
Amnesty International has also scrutinized the actions of law enforcement concerning the NGO No Name Kitchen, which has faced harassment, including the detention of activists and the circulation of their personal information among groups on social media. The organization argues that the recent judicial actions against No Name Kitchen, including accusations of "criminal organization," lack solid evidence and represent an escalation in efforts to silence those providing humanitarian assistance to migrants. The organization finds the prosecutor's stance especially concerning, advocating for pre-trial detention of two activists and pushing for witness testimony to be accepted without the presence of the accused, which was ultimately rejected by the presiding judge.
As reported by rtve.es.
