[REVISION HISTORY]

Morocco-Spain judicial and migration tensions

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2026-08-26 13:12 UTC → 2026-09-10 11:31 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Moroccan Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi announced that Morocco is considering suspending its bilateral extradition agreement with Spain due to concerns over a lack of judicial reciprocity. The Minister cited instances where Moroccan security agents were mobilized for transfers, only for handovers to fail at the final stage despite Moroccan compliance with Spanish requests. This tension is further complicated by disagreements regarding migration management, specifically concerning the regularization of irregular migrants and the return of unaccompanied minors in Ceuta. In a related legal development, Spain’s Audiencia Nacional authorized the deportation of a Moroccan national, rejecting an urgent request to suspend his removal. The individual had claimed he faced ~~“peligro~~ ‘peligro inminente de ~~muerte”~~ muerte’ (imminent danger of death) due to alleged persecution in Morocco. However, the court found the claims lacked credibility and noted that the UNHCR reported the individual did not appear to require international protection. Further complicating repatriation efforts, the Spanish State Attorney General's Office reported that judicial deportations are being significantly hindered by the restrictive policies and limited consular cooperation of Morocco and Algeria. The Prosecutor's Office identified the lack of documentation and the refusal of these nations to facilitate repatriations as primary obstacles. Specifically, Morocco reportedly only accepts the return of citizens if they present an original, valid passport, a requirement many convicted individuals circumvent by hiding their documents. The report also noted a 19.2% increase in requests to substitute prison sentences with deportation for individuals with no ties to Spain.

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