Briefing
On Saturday, 19 September 2026, representatives of Madrid gathered in SOS Racismo Madrid, the Colectivo Migrantes Transgresorxs and Border Resistance, to denounce alleged assaults against people at the borders of Ceuta and Melilla . At a joint rally, the organisations described the situation at the enclaves as a “colonial and racist” manifestation of the border and called for “peace” for the migrant population, as well as for Spain, Morocco and the European Union.
The spokesperson for SOS Racismo Madrid, Mehdi Elías, pointed to an increase in racist and Islamophobic incidents recorded by the groups, citing a percentage rise between July and August which, according to the demonstrators, was around 70 per cent. The activists also criticised the situation facing minors and LGBTIpeople; Colectivo Migrantes Transgresorxs called for asylum applications to be processed more quickly and individually, and for safe spaces for particularly vulnerable people.
Border Resistance said it had witness accounts, photographs and other evidence which it said documented possible acts of violence and ill-treatment; its coordinator Shadi Boukhari called for an international investigation if the allegations were confirmed. The organisers also called for medical and legal support for those affected, as well as transparent disciplinary proceedings against any officers implicated by the evidence.
The demonstration in Madrid is part of a series of civil-society protests and statements since the mass border crossing in July 2026. The organisers explicitly distinguished between documented evidence — such as witness accounts, medical reports and images — and political assessments, while also stressing that many of the claims they had raised had not yet been examined by a court. No specific criminal or disciplinary decisions had been made by 19 September 2026. The groups’ demand remains clear: independent investigations, protection measures for refugees and a legally transparent determination of responsibility.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).