Title

State of the World's Minorities 2007 - Spain

Publisher

Minority Rights Group International

Country

Spain

Publication Date 4 March 2007

Cite as

Minority Rights Group International, State of the World's Minorities 2007 - Spain, 4 March 2007, available at:
http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/48a97134b3.html [accessed 3 September 2010]

State of the World's Minorities 2007 - Spain

In 2006, the Spanish government approved a new Statute of Autonomy
for Catalonia, further expanding the region's autonomous powers and
strengthening Catalan culture. The statute was approved by referendum
in Catalonia on 18 June 2006. Due to its geographical position, Spain is a
primary entry point for African migrants to Europe. In November 2006 it
was reported that some 16,000 illegal immigrants from Africa had come
to the Canary Isles in 2006, and Spain continued to be accused of abuse
against African migrants and asylum seekers. In July 2006, three were
killed when they tried to enter the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and
Melilla from Morocco, allegedly as a result of Spanish and Moroccan law
enforcement officers using disproportionate and lethal force to prevent
them entering; in 2005 at least 13 people were similarly killed. In
October 2006, Amnesty International again expressed its concern about
the allegations of ill-treatment and excessive use of force by the
Spanish Civil Guard, including use of firearms and heavy rubber bullets
at close range, when confronting migrants and asylum seekers
attempting to climb over the fences into Ceuta and Melilla. Moreover,
Amnesty asserted that, when people are intercepted by Spanish Civil
Guards in the area between the two border fences, they are often
immediately unlawfully expelled through one of the gates in the fence
closest to Moroccan territory.

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