logo
PP pushes for security plan on Ceuta and Melilla after Creation of Liberation Committee

PP pushes for security plan on Ceuta and Melilla after Creation of Liberation Committee

Ya Biladi3 days ago
In Spain, after Vox, it's now the People's Party's (PP) turn to voice concerns over the revival of the Ceuta and Melilla Liberation Committee. The PP's Senate group has introduced a motion urging the government of Pedro Sanchez to implement a «Comprehensive Security Plan for the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla, in line with the 2021 National Security Strategy commitments».
This move by the PP pushes the executive to «urgently adopt the measures outlined in this Plan to mitigate the negative impact of the Moroccan government's unilateral decisions», as stated in the document.
The motion, submitted by Senator Fernando Gutiérrez Díaz de Otazu, who represents Melilla, underscores that «in recent years, the Moroccan government has made several decisions that directly affect the living conditions of the inhabitants of Ceuta and Melilla, necessitating special attention». The People's Party believes it is «necessary for the General State Administration to intervene» to tackle the issues stemming from the border status of these two cities.
It is important to note that Nizar Baraka, Secretary-General of the Istiqlal Party (PI), expressed in a letter addressed to Alberto Núñez Feijóo, his «concerns about the ambiguity of the PP's position on the Sahara issue». «We express our deep concern about the lack of clarity from the People's Party on the Moroccan Sahara issue, while an international dynamic of support for the autonomy initiative under Moroccan sovereignty is gaining strength», Baraka lamented in his message.
The PP responded to this letter from the head of the Istiqlal Party. «Our position on the Sahara is public and transparent, unlike the opaque decisions made by this government on the subject. We have always defended the same stance, and we maintain it today», stated Borja Sémper, the PP spokesperson.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Spain's government challenges Jumilla's ban on Muslim celebrations over constitutional rights
Spain's government challenges Jumilla's ban on Muslim celebrations over constitutional rights

Ya Biladi

time6 hours ago

  • Ya Biladi

Spain's government challenges Jumilla's ban on Muslim celebrations over constitutional rights

The Spanish government in Madrid has issued an ultimatum to the city council of Jumilla (Murcia province) to repeal a recently approved measure backed by local People's Party officials. Proposed by the far-right Vox party, the motion bans the use of municipal facilities for Muslim religious celebrations, specifically Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha, the festival of sacrifice. If the ban is not revoked within a month, the government will take the matter to administrative court, Iberian media reported Monday, citing the socialist government of Pedro Sanchez. The government has condemned the measure as «racist», arguing that it «arbitrarily restricts» annual festivities and violates the constitutional right to religious freedom, including that of the Muslim community. Last week, Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration Elma Saiz stressed that her government would ensure «maximum respect for the Constitution». The Ministry of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with Parliament issued a similar statement and coordinated the revocation request with the Department of Territorial Policy. Minister Félix Bolaños also denounced the measure, calling it evidence of the «extremist drift» of the PP-Vox alliance. «We will put an end to their extreme measures, as we did against obstacles to abortion in Castilla-La Mancha or censorship in Murcia», he said. The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) echoed this stance through its spokesperson, Montse Mínguez, who on Saturday accused the People's Party of aligning itself with the ideology of the far right. She warned that this alliance «institutionalizes racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia». Ban in Jumilla Targets Muslim Community While the PP continues to back the motion, the government has vowed to overturn it. Jumilla, a town of nearly 27,000 residents, is home to an estimated 1,500 Muslims. The city council defends its decision as a measure to protect «traditional religious values and practices». According to the government, however, the discriminatory intent is clear, both in the original text and in statements by the Vox spokesperson, who openly boasted about banning Muslim festivities. For Madrid, this is «yet another violation of fundamental rights and freedoms» by local and regional right-wing and far-right administrations, one in which the central government «must intervene to uphold the Constitution». The executive also argues that the justification for the ban is baseless, noting that the law allows municipal sports facilities to be used for «sociocultural activities». The government reaffirmed its «uncompromising commitment» to combating intolerance and defending «the Constitution, democratic values, and peaceful coexistence». It pledged to «politically and legally challenge any initiative aimed at undermining rights and freedoms and dragging Spain toward an authoritarian path, as seen in other countries governed by the far right». Criticism from the Catholic Church and Civil Society Beyond politics, the measure has drawn criticism from the Spanish Episcopal Conference, which cited the constitutional principle of freedom of worship, a position that Vox has rejected. In a province with a significant Moroccan community, civil society groups have also spoken out against the motion. Sabah Yacoubi, president of the Association of Moroccan Immigrant Workers (ATIM) in the region and national vice-president of the organization, told Yabiladi last week that the decision reflects a longstanding contradiction fueled by xenophobic and Islamophobic sentiment. She warned that the PP and Vox's rhetoric about «activities foreign to the people's identity» is «false and dangerous», especially given Spain's historical legacy under Muslim rule during the caliphate.

Morocco at the Panama Book Fair : Algerian disinformation in overdrive
Morocco at the Panama Book Fair : Algerian disinformation in overdrive

Ya Biladi

time6 hours ago

  • Ya Biladi

Morocco at the Panama Book Fair : Algerian disinformation in overdrive

For nearly a week, Algerian media have led a propaganda campaign against Morocco's participation in the Panama International Book Fair, which will take place from August 11 to 17. Official Algerian radio ran a piece titled «Panama Book Fair: Morocco's Participation Rejected in Solidarity with the Sahrawi People», while the website Awras published «Morocco Excluded from International Book Fair Due to Western Sahara». Similarly, Elayem ran «In Support of Western Sahara, Panama Excludes Morocco from International Book Fair», and El Massa described it as a diplomatic setback for Morocco following its alleged exclusion from the fair. The campaign was bolstered by a statement from the Panamanian Solidarity Association with the Sahrawi Cause, which criticized Morocco's participation as «an affront to the principles of justice» and «an attack on the memory of peoples fighting for freedom». The group called Morocco's presence «unacceptable» and claimed it «undermines the spirit of the fair, which should be dedicated to diversity, dialogue, and respect for historical truth». A campaign without impact These claims proved baseless. The fair opened Monday at the Atlapa Convention Center in Panama City under the theme «Weaving Dialogues», with Morocco present as guest of honor, directly contradicting the Algerian media narrative. Orit Btesh, president of the Panamanian Book Chamber, which organizes the event, noted that this year's edition will run for a full week for the first time, with the aim of surpassing last year's attendance of more than 104,000 visitors. Meanwhile, Morocco's Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication announced that its pavilion will feature cultural performances, intellectual and artistic gatherings, and joint seminars with Panama to highlight Moroccan culture and civilization. Morocco's role as guest of honor is not only cultural but also carries strong political and diplomatic significance. It reflects Panama's recent shift on the Sahara issue, moving from recognition of the so-called «Sahrawi Republic» to officially withdrawing that recognition and supporting the autonomy initiative under Moroccan sovereignty. This change, which began after President José Raúl Mulino took office in July 2024, dealt a significant blow to the Polisario and its allies. In November 2024, Panama's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that «in accordance with international law, the Government of Panama has decided, as of today, to suspend diplomatic relations» with the «Sahrawi Republic». Just days ago, Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Eduardo Martinez-Acha Vasquez reaffirmed his country's recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara. Historically, Panama was the first country in the Americas to establish diplomatic relations with the separatist front in 1978, and in 2016 the latter opened an embassy in Panama City.

Spain's government challenges Jumilla's ban on Muslim celebrations over constitutional rights
Spain's government challenges Jumilla's ban on Muslim celebrations over constitutional rights

Ya Biladi

time10 hours ago

  • Ya Biladi

Spain's government challenges Jumilla's ban on Muslim celebrations over constitutional rights

The Spanish government in Madrid has issued an ultimatum to the city council of Jumilla (Murcia province) to repeal a recently approved measure backed by local People's Party officials. Proposed by the far-right Vox party, the motion bans the use of municipal facilities for Muslim religious celebrations, specifically Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha, the festival of sacrifice. If the ban is not revoked within a month, the government will take the matter to administrative court, Iberian media reported Monday, citing the socialist government of Pedro Sanchez. The government has condemned the measure as «racist», arguing that it «arbitrarily restricts» annual festivities and violates the constitutional right to religious freedom, including that of the Muslim community. Last week, Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration Elma Saiz stressed that her government would ensure «maximum respect for the Constitution». The Ministry of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with Parliament issued a similar statement and coordinated the revocation request with the Department of Territorial Policy. Minister Félix Bolaños also denounced the measure, calling it evidence of the «extremist drift» of the PP-Vox alliance. «We will put an end to their extreme measures, as we did against obstacles to abortion in Castilla-La Mancha or censorship in Murcia», he said. The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) echoed this stance through its spokesperson, Montse Mínguez, who on Saturday accused the People's Party of aligning itself with the ideology of the far right. She warned that this alliance «institutionalizes racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia». Ban in Jumilla Targets Muslim Community While the PP continues to back the motion, the government has vowed to overturn it. Jumilla, a town of nearly 27,000 residents, is home to an estimated 1,500 Muslims. The city council defends its decision as a measure to protect «traditional religious values and practices». According to the government, however, the discriminatory intent is clear, both in the original text and in statements by the Vox spokesperson, who openly boasted about banning Muslim festivities. For Madrid, this is «yet another violation of fundamental rights and freedoms» by local and regional right-wing and far-right administrations, one in which the central government «must intervene to uphold the Constitution». The executive also argues that the justification for the ban is baseless, noting that the law allows municipal sports facilities to be used for «sociocultural activities». The government reaffirmed its «uncompromising commitment» to combating intolerance and defending «the Constitution, democratic values, and peaceful coexistence». It pledged to «politically and legally challenge any initiative aimed at undermining rights and freedoms and dragging Spain toward an authoritarian path, as seen in other countries governed by the far right». Criticism from the Catholic Church and Civil Society Beyond politics, the measure has drawn criticism from the Spanish Episcopal Conference, which cited the constitutional principle of freedom of worship, a position that Vox has rejected. In a province with a significant Moroccan community, civil society groups have also spoken out against the motion. Sabah Yacoubi, president of the Association of Moroccan Immigrant Workers (ATIM) in the region and national vice-president of the organization, told Yabiladi last week that the decision reflects a longstanding contradiction fueled by xenophobic and Islamophobic sentiment. She warned that the PP and Vox's rhetoric about «activities foreign to the people's identity» is «false and dangerous», especially given Spain's historical legacy under Muslim rule during the caliphate.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store