Major Shift to Homosexual Persecution Claims in Ceuta Asylum Applications, Police Say

After the mass entry into Ceuta, asylum seekers first argued economic hardship as the basis for protection, but police now say most have switched to alleging persecution for a newly declared homosexual orientation. Unnamed sources from Spain's National Police say about seventy percent of the filings make this claim, while ninety-five percent of the applicants are Moroccan citizens. Authorities suspect that non-governmental groups are providing guidance on how to frame the applications, prompting concerns about potential fraud.

To date, nineteen asylum grants have been recorded, five of which were based on sexual-orientation persecution, against a backdrop of a ninety-nine percent overall denial rate. The police union has called for more resources to verify claims, noting that rejected applicants often disappear, complicating enforcement. Spanish officials stress that merely stating a gay identity is insufficient; applicants must demonstrate a credible risk of persecution if returned to Morocco.