By Ron Howells • Published: 15 Aug 2021 • 8:12
Spanish rights groups denounce child deportations to Morocco. image: Twitter
Spanish rights groups denounce child deportations to Morocco.
Human rights groups have denounced Spain’s expulsion of unaccompanied children to Morocco, calling the deportations illegal with ministers urging the Spanish government to call an immediate halt to the process.
Amnesty International spokesman Angel Gonzalo said the deportations of minors began Friday and continued on Saturday, August 13, 14.
The Interior Ministry and Spanish police did not immediately respond to requests for comment or confirm the exact number of children affected.
“We are writing to the Ministry of Interior asking them to stop these expulsions immediately, and asking for transparency over their actions,” Gonzalo said, adding the organisation was speaking with prosecutors as “these expulsions violate international law.”
Spain is legally obliged to care for young migrants until their relatives can be located or until they turn 18.
Save The Children, meanwhile, urged Spanish authorities to assess the needs of each child and not deport them en masse, about a quarter of the migrant children it interviewed in Ceuta had suffered abuse in their homeland, accord to the organisation.
Hundreds of unaccompanied minors were among a massive surge of over 10,000 people who tried to enter Ceuta in May by scaling a border fence or swimming around it. Morocco has since taken back the bulk of the migrants.
The mass exodus took place after Spain agreed to provide medical treatment for the Sahrawi leader heading the fight for an independent Western Sahara, which was annexed by Morocco in the 1970s. Rabat reacted furiously by recalling its ambassador in Madrid.
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Ron actually started his working career as an Ophthalmic Technician- things changed when, during a band rehearsal, his amplifier blew up and he couldn’t get it fixed so he took a course at Birmingham University and ended up doing a degree course. He built up a chain of electronics stores and sold them as a franchise over 35 years ago. After five years touring the world Ron decided to move to Spain with his wife and son, a place they had visited over the years, and only bought the villa they live in because it has a guitar-shaped swimming pool!. Playing the guitar since the age of 7, he can often be seen, (and heard!) at beach bars and clubs along the length of the coast. He has always been interested in the news and constantly thrives to present his articles in an interesting and engaging way.
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