Debunking the Rumor: No Evidence of Morocco Taking 68 Girls from an Orphanage to Ceuta

Clarifying the Situation Surrounding the Allegations of Forced Abduction

Recent social media posts have circulated alarming claims that 68 Moroccan girls, aged between 10 and 14, were forcibly removed from an orphanage in Ifran and transported by bus to the Ceuta border on July 30. However, these assertions lack any substantial evidence or documented records to verify that such an event occurred. The root of this misinformation appears to stem from an interview aired on Telecinco on September 16, where an unidentified man alleged that a supposed worker from a shelter informed him that the minors had reported these events. Despite this claim, the individual did not disclose the identity of the worker, the shelter, or the orphanage in question, nor did they provide direct testimonies, documents, or images to support their statement.

In an effort to establish the truth, VerificaRTVE has reached out to the Government Delegation in Ceuta, the local autonomous government, as well as various organizations that assist migrants, and journalists on the ground, but no confirmation of the alleged abduction has been found. Furthermore, extensive searches have not uncovered any information regarding the existence of an orphanage for girls in Ifran as claimed. The rumor seems to conflate unverified accounts with a factual occurrence: on July 30, a considerable number of minors, including many girls and adolescents, did arrive in Ceuta following a mass entry. The government reported approximately 700 girls among the identified minors, but this statistic does not substantiate claims that they were taken from an orphanage or coerced into crossing the border.

In light of these developments, it becomes essential to approach such claims critically, ensuring that information shared on social media is thoroughly fact-checked to avoid the proliferation of unfounded rumors. This situation emphasizes the importance of verifying facts before disseminating potentially harmful information, especially concerning vulnerable populations. As reported by youtube.com.