Moroccan migrant alleges abduction, torture by Spanish soldiers in Ceuta

A Moroccan migrant in Ceuta has accused Spanish soldiers of abducting and torturing him in an alleged assault that lasted several hours, according to testimony published by the Nador section of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights.

The man, whose identity was not disclosed, said the incident occurred Sept. 12 at about 8 p.m. He alleged that four soldiers approached him on a public street and asked him to accompany them to a secluded location to talk.

After he refused, the men allegedly restrained him, forced him to the ground and took him in a military vehicle to an isolated area, where he said they began beating him.

In a recorded testimony shared by the rights group, the migrant alleged that the soldiers repeatedly struck him in the head, face, eyes and stomach. He also said one of the men threatened to take him into a forest and rape him, while another allegedly threatened to shoot and kill him.

The migrant said the assault continued for about two hours. He alleged that one of the soldiers used a sharp object to injure his back and that he was repeatedly beaten while being held down.

He further alleged that the soldiers burned his hand four times and his leg once with cigarettes he was carrying.

According to his account, the men later took him to a forest, where he said the assault continued. He alleged that the soldiers kicked and struck his legs and arms and threatened to break his limbs.

The migrant also claimed that the soldiers threatened to kill him if he reported the incident. He said they warned that they could find him after he returned to Morocco and allegedly claimed they had criminal contacts there who could harm him.

The Moroccan Association for Human Rights published the testimony as part of its efforts to document alleged abuses against Moroccan migrants in Ceuta.

The allegations come amid broader concerns raised by migrant rights organizations about the treatment of Moroccan migrants in the Spanish enclave.

The testimony could not independently establish the identity of the alleged perpetrators or verify the migrant’s account. Any investigation by the relevant Spanish authorities would be needed to determine whether wrongdoing occurred.

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