Marrakech – Two young souls who braved treacherous waters and razor wire seeking hope found themselves speaking truth to power in a sterile courtroom. Their voices, trembling yet determined, shattered the silence that too often shrouds the vulnerable in places meant to shelter them.
These Moroccan teenagers, aged 15 and 17, have ignited a criminal investigation against a female counselor that exposes the dark underbelly of Spain’s overburdened migration system in the North African enclave of Ceuta.
According to Spanish media reports, the incident occurred at the Entre Dos Mares center, a former hostel converted into an emergency reception facility for foreign minors.
The woman, employed by the NGO Engloba, appeared before Ceuta’s Court of Instruction No. 5 last week and was released with a restraining order prohibiting contact with the victims.
The investigation began when the two Moroccan boys disclosed the alleged abuse to an educator at the residential center.
The educator immediately informed the center’s director, who activated protection protocols and notified the Minor’s Area department. The case was subsequently reported to the Spanish enclave’s Prosecutor’s Office.
Court sources confirmed that both minors provided testimony under special protection procedures designed for vulnerable victims within Spain’s judicial system.
This pre-constituted evidence prevents them from having to testify again during potential trial proceedings, reducing their emotional exposure during the judicial process.
The Spanish judicial authority imposed precautionary measures requiring the accused to maintain a minimum distance of 100 meters from both minors and prohibiting any form of communication with them.
The investigation focuses on alleged sexual contact that violated the freedom and sexual integrity of the two teenagers, though specific details remain undisclosed to protect the victims’ identities.
The case carries heightened legal gravity under Spanish law due to one victim’s age. Spain imposes more severe penalties for sexual offenses against minors under 16 years old, particularly those under state guardianship like these Moroccan teenagers.
Entre Dos Mares represents one of several emergency resources that Ceuta’s Spanish authorities established to address the massive influx of unaccompanied foreign minors.
The facility was hastily converted from a hostel when the main La Esperanza center reached capacity. Local Spanish authorities also adapted warehouses in the Tarajal area as temporary accommodation points.
The Spanish enclave currently cares for approximately 500 unaccompanied minors despite having infrastructure designed for only 132.
Ceuta registered 720 new minor arrivals since January, forcing Spanish authorities to allocate an emergency fund of €11 million ($12.9 million) in their 2025 budget for migrant minor assistance.
The historically Moroccan city brought under Iberian rule has operated under a migratory contingency declaration since September 1, mandating the transfer of all irregular arrivals to mainland Spain within 15 days.
Between September 28 and November 25, Spanish authorities completed 129 transfers from Ceuta to the peninsula through an obligatory relocation mechanism established by royal decree.
The investigation remains in preliminary stages under the Spanish enclave’s Court of Instruction No. 5, with proceedings maintained under summary secrecy where necessary to protect the minors’ privacy and ensure proper judicial progress.
Read also: New Trend in Spain: Moroccan Parents Leave Children in Bilbao for Care Services
