Three European Parliament lawmakers have described the humanitarian situation in Ceuta as worsening after visiting the Spanish territory on a fact-finding mission. Their allegations of mistreatment of stranded migrants have prompted Spain’s government to order an internal military investigation.
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The lawmakers spoke at a joint press conference in Brussels after returning from Ceuta. Estrella Galán, a member of The Left, and Jaume Asens, a member of the Greens, were identified among the delegation. The identity of the third lawmaker was not provided.
Allegations of mistreatment
Asens alleged that the delegation found “torture, inhumane treatment by military forces” in Ceuta. He said the reported incidents were part of a wider pattern, alleging that patrols carried out night sweeps and beat migrants.
Asens also alleged that migrants were robbed and forced to shave their hair or kneel to kiss a Christian cross or the Spanish flag. The claims were presented by the lawmaker as accounts of conduct by state forces and were not independently verified in the supplied report.
Amnesty International separately accused Spain’s armed forces of torture and other cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment of stranded migrants.
Spain’s government has ordered the military to conduct an internal probe aimed at identifying people who may be responsible for the alleged acts. No details were provided about the investigation’s timetable, scope or findings.
Disputed estimates
The developments came two months after tens of thousands of migrants entered Ceuta, Spain’s African enclave. An estimated 72,000 people entered during the influx, and most were returned to neighbouring Morocco within several days. A few thousand were believed to have remained in the territory.
Weeks later, Spain’s national government estimated that about 5,000 migrants were still in Ceuta, including approximately 1,200 minors. Ceuta’s local government gave a higher estimate, although no exact figure for that estimate was provided.
Ceuta has a population of about 84,000. The sudden arrival of migrants placed heavy pressure on local resources and angered many residents. Local authorities also said Spain’s central government had ignored warning signs before the border was breached.
Calls over conditions
Galán warned that Ceuta should not become “a laboratory for the reduction of rights” or “an open-air refugee camp.” She said retaining thousands of people in makeshift emergency camps could not be considered a solution.
The lawmakers’ statements have intensified scrutiny of how migrants remaining in the territory are being treated. The allegations remain claims by the visiting lawmakers and Amnesty International, while Spain’s internal probe is expected to examine possible responsibility within the armed forces.
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