Toronto Star
· collected 2026-10-11 · by Suman Naishadham And Bernat Armangué The Associated Press
In Ceuta, Spain, migrants living in a tent camp discuss their reasons for seeking refuge and safety, ranging from economic opportunities to escaping war and persecution based on gender or sexuality. The article highlights specific allegations of abuse by Spanish soldiers against some migrants, including one Moroccan artisan who claims he was beaten severely after being forced into a car trunk and tied to a tree. This report also mentions the case of a transgender 19-year-old who fled Morocco due to discrimination and returned home after spending nearly two months in Ceuta’s camp. Additionally, a gay man from Tetouan recounts facing threats from his family upon discovery of his sexual orientation, leading him to seek asylum elsewhere.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-11,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Many of the migrants in a sprawling tent village in Ceuta came searching for better economic opportunities.
asserted
Many → sprawl → opportunities
Others fled war and violence, or sought refuge in Spain because of their gender or sexuality.
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Others → flee → gender
With a humanitarian crisis unfolding, some have come forward with allegations of abuse.
asserted
some → unfold → abuse
Interviews at the now-demolished camp revealed migrants’ motivations for seeking protection.
asserted
Interviews → demolish → protection
Moroccan artisan, 27, says Spanish soldiers beat him
A Moroccan migrant recalled pressing his shirt against his head in the early morning.
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migrant → say → morning
The blood kept flowing.
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blood → flow → ?
A group of Spanish soldiers had tied his head to a tree that September morning, he said, and struck him in the head, on the back and on his arms.
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he → tie → arms
He spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear for his safety.
asserted
He → speak → safety
The soldiers had approached him and another migrant and told them to follow, saying that their superior would register them, according to a police report he filed, which The Associated Press has reviewed.
uncertain
Press → approach → which
“They stuffed us into the trunk of a car, locked us in and drove us to the forest,” he said in an interview on Oct. 1.
asserted
he → stuff → Oct.
His mouth was covered with gray electrical tape, he said.
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he → cover → tape
“When they were beating me, I saw death, only death,” he said.
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he → beat → death
“Imagine your face being tied to a tree while they strike your head, taking hit after hit, right to the front of your face.”
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they → imagine → face
He received staples in his head for his injuries, he said, and showed the AP his healing wounds.
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he → receive → wounds
He said he wants to hold the soldiers to account.
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he → say → account
Spanish prosecutors are investigating reports of torture and mistreatment of migrants in Ceuta, including minors.
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prosecutors → investigate → minors
Amnesty International published a report in September detailing allegations of inhumane treatment by Spanish soldiers.
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International → publish → soldiers
“I never thought anything like this could happen,” the artisan said.
uncertain
artisan → think → this
“We truly believed the people here are good and that the government is decent.”
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government → believe → ?
“Sometimes I ask myself why I even came here, but other times I tell myself that God will help me.”
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God → ask → me
Transgender man, 19, returns to Morocco
A transgender teen swam to Ceuta in July from the Moroccan city of Fnideq.
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teen → return → Fnideq
Soon, he thought, he would be in a shelter.
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he → think → shelter
Instead, he spent nearly two months at the beachside camp.
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he → spend → camp
He left home because of the challenges of being transgender, he said.
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he → leave → challenges
He spoke on the condition of anonymity due to fears of reprisals for his gender identity.
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He → speak → identity
“People in Morocco don’t have any mercy,” he said in an interview on Sept. 29.
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he → have → Sept.
“They look at the outside of you, not the inside.”
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They → look → you
In Ceuta, he said he briefly lived with extended family, but they kicked him out after learning about his identity.
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they → say → identity
“They didn’t accept my situation,” he said.
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he → accept → situation
Spain’s asylum law recognizes gender identity and sexual orientation as valid grounds for seeking protection.
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law → recognize → protection
Cases are assessed individually.
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Cases → assess → ?
In early October, he returned to Morocco after police cleared the camp.
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police → return → camp
A gay man threatened by his family
A soft-spoken 34-year-old man left Tetouan, in northern Morocco, after his brother found pictures of him and his boyfriend on his phone and threatened to report them to the police.
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brother → threaten → police
In a previous argument, he said his brother had burned him with hot oil.
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brother → say → oil
He spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals from his family, community and the Moroccan government.
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He → speak → community
Hundreds of men and women are prosecuted annually under such laws, according to the U.S. State Department.
uncertain
Hundreds → prosecute → Department
Homosexuality is regularly cited as an asylum claim for Moroccans attempting to flee.
uncertain
Homosexuality → cite → Moroccans
“I left Morocco because being gay is so hard,” he said.
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he → leave → Morocco
Persecuted for criticizing Islam
A 28-year-old Moroccan asylum seeker said he received death threats for posting content online that is critical of Islam.
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that → persecute → Islam
In 2025, he hosted TikTok livestreams focused on the religion.
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he → host → religion
…and 9 more, not listed.
The Aporia
