Amnesty International Spain has documented 28 additional cases of alleged beatings, humiliation and abuse of migrants by military personnel in Ceuta, including 13 involving minors, bringing the total number of cases recorded by the organization since a mass crossing into the Spanish-occupied city in late July to 50.
The organization said the latest cases involved alleged torture, ill-treatment and other forms of degrading treatment by military personnel and members of Spain’s security forces, including the National Police and Civil Guard.
In a new field investigation, Amnesty International said 18 of the 28 newly documented incidents occurred after September 30, when Spain’s Defense Ministry announced an investigation into allegations previously raised by the organization and audio recordings published by Spanish outlet elDiario.es.
The reported incidents included punches, kicks and baton blows, as well as alleged taser use against migrants sleeping on the streets. Some victims reportedly sustained fractures, head injuries, bruising and other injuries.
Amnesty International also documented allegations of threats, theft and the destruction of migrants’ belongings, including mobile phones and identity documents.
The organization said it had received no information confirming whether specific military personnel had been investigated or removed from duty, or whether victims and witnesses had been given adequate protection against possible reprisals.
“Following the Ministry of Defense’s announcement of an investigation, it was expected that the mistreatment would cease, but this has not been the case,” said Esteban Beltrán, director of Amnesty International Spain, warning that the alleged abuses appeared to be continuing without accountability.
In addition to the 18 cases reported after September 30, the organization documented 10 further cases of alleged torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment dating from before that date.
Four of those cases were described as particularly serious, involving alleged abductions, transfers to isolated locations in military vehicles and treatment that Amnesty International said could amount to torture.
The investigation also recorded seven cases of alleged mistreatment by members of Spain’s security forces.
Amnesty International called for an independent and thorough investigation into the reported abuses, the removal from duty of military personnel allegedly involved, and effective protection for victims and witnesses.
It also urged Spanish authorities to grant temporary residence permits to migrants who file complaints or agree to testify.
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