70 percent of new asylum seekers in Ceuta say they are being persecuted because of homosexuality

According to Spanish police circles, there are signs of a change in asylum applications from migrants who arrived in Ceuta at the end of July.

Meanwhile, around 70 percent of recent applicants cited persecution because of their sexual orientation in their countries of origin, reports the Spanish newspaper ABC. So far, only five applications have been approved in which sexual orientation was cited as a reason for protection.

In the first 30 days after arrival, many applicants cited primarily economic reasons for fleeing, including unemployment and the desire for better living conditions in Spain. Meanwhile, persecution because of sexual orientation is the most frequently cited information.

Police circles suspect that information is spreading among migrants about which reasons could increase the chances of receiving protection status. Some applicants may have adapted their information accordingly. Officials also mention appropriate advice from non-governmental organizations as an option. However, according to the police union, there is no evidence of systematic abuse.

Around 95 percent of the applications examined by the police come from Moroccan nationals. The remaining five percent were people of other nationalities. The police estimate the rejection rate of applications from Moroccan citizens that have already been processed to be around 99 percent.

Same-sex sexual relations are punishable in Morocco under Article 489 of the Penal Code. Prison sentences range from six months to three years. Homosexual people can therefore fundamentally have reasons to apply for international protection in Spain.

However, simply declaring that you are homosexual is not enough for you to be recognized as a refugee. The Spanish authorities must check whether the person in question poses a justified risk of persecution if they return to their country of origin. A previous attack or a previous arrest is not absolutely necessary. The decisive factor is whether the requirements for protection status are met.

According to estimates, around 10,000 migrants remain in the Spanish exclave on the North African coast. They came to Ceuta on July 30th and 31st. The number has decreased significantly due to the clearance of illegal camps. At the same time, fewer and fewer people were hiding in makeshift shelters or in impassable, rocky terrain to avoid identification.