90 NGOs Denounce Systematic Attacks on Migrants in Ceuta

More than 90 organizations have denounced "systematic" aggressions against migrants in **Ceuta**, based on testimonies of beatings, harassment, and neglect.

## Denunciations of Violence in Ceuta

More than **90 organizations** and political parties have issued a joint statement denouncing what they describe as violent and systematic mistreatment of migrants in the streets of **Ceuta**. These accusations are based on **dozens of direct testimonies** collected by the NGO **Border Resistance**, which works to defend migrants and asylum seekers in the region. The accounts point to a climate of recurrent beatings, harassment, and notable indifference from authorities.

The situation is exacerbated for **LGTBIQ+** individuals, who report increased and specific violence.

According to the collected testimonies, aggressions intensify at night and dawn. Patrols, often arriving amidst constant shouting and insults, raid sleeping places of migrants without warning. The use of batons, kicks from heavy combat boots, and the destruction of belongings such as mattresses and cardboard is described. Although aggressions decrease during the day, they resume if victims move away from volunteers or journalists. The statement details a pattern of blows aimed at avoiding the worst apparent severity, but which include injuries to the face, abdomen, back, pelvic area, and genitals, sometimes causing fractures or temporary uselessness in the hands.

## Aggressions and Healthcare Neglect

The denunciation goes beyond direct physical aggressions. Threats are mentioned against those who cannot swim, urging them into the sea, and beatings of those attempting to swim ashore. In addition to actions attributed to "public authorities," it is noted that **local residents** spray tear gas into their eyes, sometimes after offering false help. The confiscation of mobile phones, headphones, and theft of money are also documented practices, carried out by both authorities and "street thieves." An especially worrying aspect is the refusal of **clinics and hospitals** to treat individuals with infected wounds, worsening their vulnerable situation.

## Context and Demands
The statement emphasizes that the documented violence cannot be understood in isolation. It forms part of a broader context of control and incivil of those who attempted to cross the border and those involved in subsequent mobilizations. The organizations demand an immediate cessation of aggressions, the establishment of an **independent international investigation**, and clarification regarding the number and identity of those who died during the border crossing at the end of July. The situation in **Ceuta** highlights the complex reality of migration and the conditions faced by those attempting to reach European territory.