Many of the migrants in a sprawling tent village in Ceuta came searching for better economic opportunities.
asserted
Many → sprawl → opportunities
Others fled war and violence, or sought refuge in Spain because of their gender or sexuality.
asserted
Others → flee → gender
With a humanitarian crisis unfolding, some have come forward with allegations of abuse.
asserted
some → unfold → abuse
Interviews at the now-demolished camp revealed migrants’ motivations for seeking protection.
asserted
Interviews → demolish → protection
Moroccan artisan, 27, says Spanish soldiers beat him
A Moroccan migrant recalled pressing his shirt against his head in the early morning.
asserted
migrant → say → morning
The blood kept flowing.
asserted
blood → flow → ?
A group of Spanish soldiers had tied his head to a tree that September morning, he said, and struck him in the head, on the back and on his arms.
asserted
he → tie → arms
He spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear for his safety.
asserted
He → speak → safety
The soldiers had approached him and another migrant and told them to follow, saying that their superior would register them, according to a police report he filed, which The Associated Press has reviewed.
uncertain
Press → approach → which
“They stuffed us into the trunk of a car, locked us in and drove us to the forest,” he said in an interview on Oct. 1.
asserted
he → stuff → Oct.
His mouth was covered with gray electrical tape, he said.
asserted
he → cover → tape
“When they were beating me, I saw death, only death,” he said.
asserted
he → beat → death
“Imagine your face being tied to a tree while they strike your head, taking hit after hit, right to the front of your face.”
asserted
they → imagine → face
He received staples in his head for his injuries, he said, and showed the AP his healing wounds.
asserted
he → receive → wounds
He said he wants to hold the soldiers to account.
asserted
he → say → account
Spanish prosecutors are investigating reports of torture and mistreatment of migrants in Ceuta, including minors.
asserted
prosecutors → investigate → minors
Amnesty International published a report in September detailing allegations of inhumane treatment by Spanish soldiers.
asserted
International → publish → soldiers
“I never thought anything like this could happen,” the artisan said.
uncertain
artisan → think → this
“We truly believed the people here are good and that the government is decent.”
asserted
government → believe → ?
“Sometimes I ask myself why I even came here, but other times I tell myself that God will help me.”
asserted
God → ask → me
Transgender man, 19, returns to Morocco
A transgender teen swam to Ceuta in July from the Moroccan city of Fnideq.
asserted
teen → return → Fnideq
Soon, he thought, he would be in a shelter.
asserted
he → think → shelter
Instead, he spent nearly two months at the beachside camp.
asserted
he → spend → camp
He left home because of the challenges of being transgender, he said.
asserted
he → leave → challenges
He spoke on the condition of anonymity due to fears of reprisals for his gender identity.
asserted
He → speak → identity
“People in Morocco don’t have any mercy,” he said in an interview on Sept. 29.
asserted
he → have → Sept.
“They look at the outside of you, not the inside.”
asserted
They → look → you
In Ceuta, he said he briefly lived with extended family, but they kicked him out after learning about his identity.
asserted
they → say → identity
“They didn’t accept my situation,” he said.
asserted
he → accept → situation
Spain’s asylum law recognizes gender identity and sexual orientation as valid grounds for seeking protection.
asserted
law → recognize → protection
Cases are assessed individually.
asserted
Cases → assess → ?
In early October, he returned to Morocco after police cleared the camp.
asserted
police → return → camp
A gay man threatened by his family
A soft-spoken 34-year-old man left Tetouan, in northern Morocco, after his brother found pictures of him and his boyfriend on his phone and threatened to report them to the police.
asserted
brother → threaten → police
In a previous argument, he said his brother had burned him with hot oil.
asserted
brother → say → oil
He spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals from his family, community and the Moroccan government.
asserted
He → speak → community
Hundreds of men and women are prosecuted annually under such laws, according to the U.S. State Department.
uncertain
Hundreds → prosecute → Department
Homosexuality is regularly cited as an asylum claim for Moroccans attempting to flee.
uncertain
Homosexuality → cite → Moroccans
“I left Morocco because being gay is so hard,” he said.
asserted
he → leave → Morocco
Persecuted for criticizing Islam
A 28-year-old Moroccan asylum seeker said he received death threats for posting content online that is critical of Islam.
asserted
that → persecute → Islam
In 2025, he hosted TikTok livestreams focused on the religion.
asserted
he → host → religion
…and 9 more, not listed.
The Aporia
