Spain deports asylum seekers from Ceuta to Morocco

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 27 Oct, 17:33 · Archive

Spain has deported more than a dozen migrants whose asylum claims were rejected from the enclave of Ceuta back to Morocco.

Spain has deported more than a dozen migrants from the enclave of Ceuta after their asylum applications were rejected. Morocco agreed to receive the group, who remain on Moroccan territory. NGOs reported that 16 people from Senegal, Nigeria, Yemen, Cameroon and Bangladesh were deported.

The deportation is the first of its kind since a mass border crossing in July, when about 80,000 people entered Ceuta from Morocco over a 48-hour period. At least 100 people died during that crossing. Ceuta covers 18.5 square kilometres and has a population of about 80,000.

Amnesty International researcher Virginia Alvarez said the deportation endangered human rights. 'Spain, despite its progressive speeches in Europe, is not ensuring that human rights guarantees are met for people who cross its borders in Ceuta and Melilla,' she said. 'Morocco does not respect many human rights.' Spain's Interior Ministry responded that Morocco is considered by the European Union to be a safe country and that deportations are carried out 'with all the necessary safeguards'.

The crisis has become a major political challenge for Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who is seeking re-election in snap elections scheduled for 29 November. Tens of thousands of protesters have gathered across Spain in recent months to criticise the government's handling of the situation.

How it is being reported

• Spain deports migrants from Ceuta in move criticised by rights groupThe deportation was the first of its kind since a mass border crossing into the territory from Morocco in July.Al Jazeera · 27 Oct, 17:10
• Spain branded ‘hypocritical’ after deporting more than a dozen Ceuta asylum seekers to MoroccoSpain insists Morocco is a safe country despite NGOs saying the country does ‘not respect many human rights’Independent World · 27 Oct, 13:48

In this story: Spain · Ceuta · Morocco · Amnesty International · Virginia Alvarez · Pedro Sanchez

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log