Aschrafe is one of the almost 2,000 minors who entered Ceuta in the last migratory crisis. However, the iconic image of him swimming in with an improvised float has gone around the world after being rescued by the Spanish army and returned to Morocco across the border at El Tarajal beach. Now, Justice must decide whether that delivery occurred was forced and, therefore, illegal.
His case is one of the many being studied by the Prosecutor's Office, which is trying to find out if the unaccompanied minors were returned on the spot when nearly 10,000 migrants entered Ceuta. Of all of them, 8,000 were returned de facto as they entered Spain if their majority was proven.
On the other hand, there are more than 1,100 minors who are still in Ceuta waiting for their situation to be resolved. The autonomous city has already stated that it is overwhelmed while the King of Morocco has given instructions for all unaccompanied minors who have entered the European Union illegally to be readmitted to the Maghreb country.
Riduan and Aiman, two children who sleep on the streets of Ceuta: "We do not want to return to Morocco" EBBABA HAMEIDA (RTVE special envoy to Ceuta)In the event that the immigrant is a minor or cannot be determined How old is it, cannot be returned hot according to Spanish legislation, in addition to being contrary to the protection of children collected by the United Nations Organization. However, Ashraf returned to Morocco even though he did not want to.
The three failed attempts to fulfill a dream
A team from TVE was able to interview this under-16-year-old in Morocco. He lives in a slum on the outskirts of Casablanca with his third mother. Ashraf explains how he was abandoned shortly after birth when his young biological mother gave up caring for him.
The Government agrees with the communities to welcome 200 migrant minors from Ceuta
At that point, another woman took over her support and education, although she died shortly after, leaving her without a family again. Already with her third mother, the current one, she has tried to cross into Spain three times because "there is work there, there is a future", according to Ashraf, who left school at the age of nine.
In February, Ashraf left his humble house with a uralite roof to go to work at a scrapyard to make some money on his trip to Europe. He did not advise his mother of his intentions. This Moroccan minor spent four months sharing a flat with four other people until he ran out of money. From there, he had to go to the streets until an opportunity came up to go to Spain.
The hot returns of minors
When Aschraf heard that people were entering Spain through El Tarajal beach, he decided to try his luck once more. With a belt and several plastic bottles hooked between them, Aschraf made a float with which to swim into Ceuta, dodging the fence by the spur.
The Prosecutor's Office opens an investigation into the forced returns of minors in Ceuta"I began to cry because I almost reached my dream of starting a new life in Europe," explained this 16-year-old Moroccan. "But I didn't get it," concludes Ashref, who was returned against his will, as he explains.
"They returned me by force, the Spanish police told me not to worry, that I was on Spanish soil and that they were going to protect me", lamented this young Moroccan who knows that the law does not allow that in cases like theirs be returned to Morocco.
Now, a Moroccan NGO has promised financial aid for rent with his family and for him to continue his studies. While the Prosecutor's Office decides his case and that of other minors, Ashraf maintains his determination to reach Spain and fulfill his dream of a new life in Europe.
Ceuta, overwhelmed by minors
The Government of Ceuta has expressed gratitude that the State is going to collaborate in caring for immigrant minors since the situation in the city has been "overwhelmed" since last May 17. The local government spokesman, Alberto Gaitán, has stated that he has asked the General State Administration for "help" "because we do not have the capacity to accommodate these minors."
Gaitán has expressed his hope that this matter can be resolved "shortly" by pointing out that if with 250 minors the reception capacity was already overflowing "worse with the 1,159 we currently have." Of these, 253 live in the provisional shelter in Piniers, another 214 in the indoor sports center of Santa Amelia, another 242 minors in the so-called "Tarajal II", another 146 more in the "Tarajal I" and another 31 remain isolated in another warehouse. for having tested positive for coronavirus. To these must be added the 273 Moroccan minors who are under the guardianship of the city and who reside in the rehousing center of La Esperanza.