This statement appeared on the website of Statewatch. It is a translation of a Statement originally written in Spanish, which originally appeared in Mugak, the journal of the Basque study center on migration, racism and xenophobia. The statement was published on 7 January 2020 and was signed by 397 local associations and NGOs. The original statement can be found here.
Yesterday morning, on 3 January 2020, a group of 42 migrant people, including 26 women and two children aged three and four, reached Congress Island in the Chafarinas archipelago. That same evening, the Guardia Civil enacted the summary return of the 42 migrants. On this occasion, the Spanish government allowed the forced return of vulnerable minors and women. At present, the government's delegation in Melilla has confirmed the return, arguing that the vessel never reached the island. However, our human rights organisations have evidence that these 42 people reached the Chafarinas in the morning and were not assisted until they were returned to Morocco although some people were injured and "one of the children was very ill". [Read more here.]
