Moroccan associations in Spain denounce the"serious escalation of racist violence" in Torre Pacheco

Moroccan and Arab associations in Spain have expressed their concern about the situation in the town of Torre Pacheco following the attack on a pensioner that sparked clashes between residents, far-right groups, and citizens of Moroccan origin. In response to this situation, the Moroccan Association for the Integration of Immigrants has denounced"the extremely serious escalation of racist violence" and demanded immediate responses from the relevant institutions.

The organization has noted that in recent days, dozens of residents of Moroccan origin are being"harassed, threatened, and even attacked in the street, while their families remain locked in their homes out of fear." In the organization's opinion,"this climate of terror does not emerge from nowhere: it is the direct result of years of normalizing hate speech, hoaxes, and irresponsible political messages that have singled out an entire community as criminals because of their origin or religion." Therefore, the organization has"unambiguously" denounced the responsibility of far-right parties and "those who have fueled this hatred for political gain, dividing neighborhoods and pitting residents against each other."

“What begins with insults and lies on social media ends with physical attacks, threats, and terrorized families. Torre Pacheco today is a mirror of what happens when racism is tolerated and whitewashed,” he added. The arson attack on the Piera mosque (Barcelona) on July 11 shows, he added, that “this hatred is not limited to one municipality, but is spreading dangerously throughout the country, threatening religious freedom and the basic values of coexistence.” This violence “is neither anecdotal nor isolated,” the group added, citing data from the Ministry of the Interior, according to which in 2023 “more than 1,850 hate crimes were recorded in Spain, 33% more than the previous year, with racism and xenophobia being the leading cause.” (EP)