Moroccan Media Responds to Spanish Police Findings
On Friday, Moroccan media outlets vehemently criticized a report released by the Spanish police, which highlighted the alleged "permissiveness" of Moroccan forces during a surge of tens of thousands of migrants arriving in the enclave of Ceuta at the end of July. This report was attributed to investigators from the National Center for Immigration and Borders (CENIF), a unit within the Spanish national police's intelligence division.
While Moroccan authorities have yet to officially respond to the report, the news portal Hespress described the document as a "particularly fragile narrative construction, lacking material evidence and riddled with contradictions." Hespress further suggested that the report aimed to make Morocco a "scapegoat for political and judicial reckonings that are strictly Iberian in nature." The report noted a "significantly reduced deployment than usual" of Moroccan agents, which has raised questions about Morocco's responsibility in this unprecedented crisis.
Concerns About Report's Accuracy
Another Moroccan online media outlet, Le Desk, labeled the report as a "sloppy document," pointing out several factual errors, including a mention of "June 30" instead of July 30. Meanwhile, the weekly publication TelQuel indicated that contrary to claims made by various media outlets, the report does not attribute the "planning and execution" of the migrant influx to Morocco nor does it identify any specific individuals responsible for the situation.
Furthermore, the information portal Médias24 emphasized the necessity of providing a Moroccan perspective on this extensively discussed report in Spain, particularly by media organizations they consider to have "hostile positions toward Morocco." Médias24 specifically questioned the usage of the term "permissiveness," arguing that it relies on a "satellite image" rather than factual evidence. In early August, a high-ranking Moroccan official assured AFP, under the condition of anonymity, that there had been no failure in Moroccan security measures.
The leaked report, which AFP had access to, has evidently caused discomfort for the Spanish government, which insists on absolving Morocco of any responsibility. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez reiterated on Thursday that he had no "solid evidence" implicating Morocco in the arrival of migrants, a stance that has drawn criticism from numerous opposition members. "If there were solid proofs, we would act accordingly, with all the decisiveness that the situation demands," stated the socialist leader.
As reported by es-us.noticias.yahoo.com.
