The Moroccan press has voiced strong criticism of a recently leaked report from the Spanish police regarding the migration crisis in Ceuta, which has been characterized as 'shoddy' and lacking in substantiation. The report accuses Morocco of 'permissiveness' during a sudden influx of tens of thousands of migrants into the Spanish enclave at the end of July, a claim that the Moroccan government vehemently disputes.
Published around 5:27 PM, this controversial document has caused significant embarrassment for the Spanish government, which has previously absolved Morocco of any wrongdoing in this matter. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez reiterated on Thursday that there is 'no evidence' linking Morocco to the arrival of the migrants, a stance that has faced criticism from various opposition members within Spain. Sanchez emphasized, 'If solid evidence existed, we would act accordingly, with all the firmness that the situation demands.'
Claims of Lack of Evidence
While Moroccan authorities have yet to officially respond to the report, which originated from investigators at the National Immigration and Borders Center (CENIF), the online news portal Hespress describes the document as a 'particularly fragile narrative construction' that is devoid of material evidence and riddled with glaring contradictions. According to Hespress, the report seems to aim at making Morocco a 'scapegoat' for political and judicial disputes that are strictly Iberian in nature. The report mentioned a 'significantly reduced deployment' of Moroccan police, raising questions about Morocco's responsibility in this unprecedented crisis.
Another Moroccan online media outlet, Le Desk, criticized the document as 'sloppy,' highlighting several factual inaccuracies, including a reference to 'June 30' instead of July 30. Le Desk also pointed out that terms like 'State' and 'Moroccan government' do not appear in the report when discussing responsibilities related to the crisis.
Perceptions of Hostility
The generalist weekly TelQuel echoed similar sentiments, noting that contrary to what several media outlets have reported, the document does not attribute the 'planning and execution' of the migrant influx to Morocco, nor does it identify any responsible parties. The news site Médias24 deemed it 'necessary' to provide a Moroccan perspective on this widely commented report, particularly from media that are perceived to hold 'hostile' views towards Morocco. They contest the use of the term 'permissiveness,' arguing that it is based on a satellite image that is merely a snapshot in time. Earlier in August, a high-ranking Moroccan official, speaking to AFP on the condition of anonymity, stated that there had been no failure in Morocco's security apparatus.
As reported by blick.ch.
