The recent decision by the Spanish government, led by Pedro Sánchez, to implement a fast-track mass regularization scheme has sparked outrage among left-wing parties, particularly Más Madrid and Compromís. This new policy will benefit over half a million immigrants, but it notably excludes both Ukrainians and Sahrawis. Critics argue that this exclusion is a blatant act of discrimination against the Sahrawi people, with implications suggesting interference from the Moroccan regime in this controversial decision.
Tesh Sidi, a deputy from Más Madrid, has vocally condemned the government's choice to omit Sahrawis from the extraordinary regularization framework. She asserted that such a decision is not coincidental but rather a deliberate policy against the Sahrawi population, facilitated by the left's complicity and the inaction within their ranks. Sidi highlighted that in Spain, Sahrawis often receive the status of stateless individuals, a condition that is recognized in over 90% of cases, which starkly reflects a failure to acknowledge the historical colonial context and the inadequate rights offered to them compared to those seeking asylum.
“The resolution process for their status can take up to three years, during which time a Sahrawi individual is rendered powerless—unable to work or exercise any rights, all while being kept in the dark regarding the status of their application. This constitutes institutional violence,” Sidi expressed. She also recounted her personal attempts to engage with the Minister of Immigration, including submitting written inquiries that went unanswered. The initial drafts of the regularization proposal, she noted, were not as overt in their discriminatory stance against a migrant population in Spain.
In addressing the current situation, Sidi questioned the Minister's claims of ensuring the protection of Sahrawis, stating, “Protected by what? By being without documentation for over three years, unable to eat, work, or access healthcare, all while living in uncertainty regarding their applications? Is this what protection looks like?” While she acknowledged the significance of the rights being granted to thousands of migrants, she also called out the PSOE and Sumar, insisting that the government must amend the current regulations.
Echoing these sentiments, Águeda Micó, a deputy from Compromís, lamented the injustice of excluding Sahrawis from the regularization process. She urged the government to find a solution to this pressing issue, highlighting that while migrants seeking asylum have rights to regularization, stateless individuals do not, which she deemed nonsensical.
In response to the criticisms, Minister of Migration Elma Saiz defended the decision during an interview with Cadena SER, explaining that stateless individuals like Sahrawis or Ukrainians are not in irregular situations, making it inappropriate to conflate their circumstances with those of irregular migrants. Saiz emphasized that the exclusion is not a form of neglect but rather a necessary separation of procedures.
This latest controversy feeds into ongoing discussions about Morocco's potential influence over the Spanish government, with reports suggesting that the regime of Mohamed VI employs immigration as a leverage point in its political dealings. Previous investigations by Libertad Digital have indicated that the Moroccan government uses such tactics to maintain political and religious sway in Spain, and the decision to exclude Sahrawis may be an effort to avoid antagonizing Morocco.
As reported by libertaddigital.com.
