A wave of online hate speech targeting Moroccans spread across social media in the days following the mass crossings into Ceuta, with rights groups warning that the rhetoric risks fueling discrimination far beyond the border itself.
The warning came from the Prometheus Institute for Democracy and Human Rights and the Civil Council Against All Forms of Discrimination after analyzing 1,245 social media posts, videos, and comments published between July 29 and July 31 across X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
The monitoring also reviewed digital media coverage and public statements in Spanish, Italian, French, Arabic, and English.
The organizations said the content revealed a marked increase in messages promoting racism, xenophobia, and discrimination against both the migrants who crossed into Ceuta and Moroccans living across Europe.
According to the preliminary findings, many posts moved beyond debating migration policy and instead targeted people based on their nationality or origin, relying on stereotypes, sweeping generalizations, and dehumanizing language.
The monitoring also examined official statements and political reactions across several European countries, with particular attention to Spain and Italy because of their influence on the broader migration debate.
The organizations warned that the hostile rhetoric could spread from criticism of the crossings to broader stigmatization and rejection of Moroccan communities across Europe.
The report also highlighted a gender dimension to the abuse. Women and girls appearing in videos from the crossings were frequently subjected to comments about their appearance, clothing, or perceived morality, which the groups described as a form of gender-based digital violence compounded by racial discrimination.
The NGOs urged media outlets, social media users, and public figures to refrain from resharing photos or videos that could expose migrants to harassment, public shaming, or further abuse. They also called for particular care in protecting the privacy and dignity of women and girls featured in such content.
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