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At least 126 LGBTQ+ refugees and migrants in Ceuta are facing serious protection concerns following a devastating border crisis between Morocco and Spain.
Human rights organisations warn that people who fled persecution because of their sexuality or gender identity are now experiencing further violence, homelessness and uncertainty on European territory.
The Spanish enclave of Ceuta, located on the northern coast of Africa, has become the centre of a humanitarian emergency. While thousands have sought refuge, LGBTQ+ people are among those facing particularly severe risks.
LGBTQ+ Refugees in Ceuta Face a Double Threat
According to a report published by ILGA-Europe on 5 October, grassroots organisation Border Resistance has documented the experiences of at least 126 LGBTQ+ people facing threats and abuse in Ceuta.
Accounts collected by campaigners describe assaults, intimidation, homelessness and alleged discriminatory treatment, including within reception facilities. Some individuals have reportedly struggled to access safe accommodation despite the dangers they face because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
A separate Associated Press investigation published on 12 October brings these concerns into sharper focus.
Among those interviewed was a 19-year-old transgender man who left Morocco hoping to find safety in Spain. Instead, he spent weeks living in precarious conditions before eventually returning to Morocco after police cleared the camp where he had been staying.
Fleeing Homophobia, Only to Face More Danger
Another man interviewed by AP, a 34-year-old gay Moroccan, described fleeing his home after family threats linked to his sexuality.
Same-sex sexual activity remains criminalised in Morocco, where people convicted under the relevant law can face imprisonment.
Spain, by contrast, recognises persecution based on sexual orientation and gender identity as potential grounds for asylum. But having those rights written into law does not automatically guarantee safe accommodation, legal assistance or protection from violence.
For LGBTQ+ asylum seekers, the consequences of being returned to an unsafe country can be devastating.
Is Europe Failing the People Seeking Its Protection?
ILGA-Europe has urged Spanish and European authorities to guarantee access to asylum procedures, investigate allegations of mistreatment and ensure that vulnerable people are not returned to places where they risk persecution.
Campaigners have also raised concerns about proposals to accelerate deportation procedures, warning that reduced safeguards could make it more difficult for people to explain why returning home would put them in danger.
The broader issue is impossible to ignore. Europe presents itself as a defender of LGBTQ+ equality, yet people seeking protection at its borders can still find themselves exposed to discrimination, insecurity and violence.
A rainbow flag means very little if the people who need protection most are left without somewhere safe to sleep.
