The hearing of Brahim Ghali, leader of the Polisario accused of torture, rape and human rights violations did indeed take place on June 1st by videoconference. He was heard by the investigating judge in Madrid, Santiago Pedraz Gomez.
The diplomatic crisis between Rabat and Madrid seems to have already had a negative impact on Spain. The United States and Morocco , as well as other countries, are busy preparing for African Lion 2021, scheduled for June 7-18 without the northern neighbor.
The leader of the Polisario, Brahim Ghali, has just been informed of the time of his appearance before the investigating judge in Madrid, Santiago Pedraz Gomez. It will take place on June 1 at 10:30 a.m. by videoconference.
The Polisario seems to want to obstruct Spanish justice. A leader of the separatist movement, Salem Lebsir, claims that Brahim Ghali , who is due to appear on June 1 before the investigating judge in Madrid, Santiago Pedraz Gomez, will leave Spain in the next few days. Other sources claim that he has already left the Iberian peninsula.
The tensions between Morocco and Spain are a concern for Driss Lachgar, first secretary of the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP). He calls on Madrid to discuss with Rabat the future of Sebta and Melilla.
An extreme right-wing group called "the Phalangist Youth" organized a demonstration near the headquarters of the Moroccan Embassy in Madrid on Tuesday to protest the massive arrival of migrants in Ceuta . One of the protesters tried to burn the Moroccan flag.
The Minister of State in charge of Human Rights and Relations with Parliament, Mustapha Ramid , reacted to the massive entry of migrants - 8,000 people including 2,000 minors - into Ceuta, which has exacerbated the diplomatic crisis between Spain and Morocco. He called on Madrid to review its policy and its relations with Rabat.
Arancha Gonzalez Laya, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain, reacted to the upcoming hearing of Brahim Ghali . The magistrate Santiago Pedraz Gomez, the investigating judge in Madrid, had issued a summons for the hearing of the Polisario leader following a complaint filed by El Fadel Breika, one of their dissidents, for "kidnapping, arbitrary detention and torture" in the Tindouf prisons. Initially scheduled for May 5, it has been postponed to Friday, May 7.
No doubt about the summoning of Brahim Ghali , the Polisario leader hospitalized in Logroño since April 21. Judge Santiago Pedraz Gomez of the Madrid court has indeed issued a summons for his hearing on May 5, as well as that of other influential members of the separatist movement.
Brahim Ghali , the Polisario leader currently hospitalized in Logroño, should face Spanish justice. Madrid investigating judge Santiago Pedraz Gomez would have issued a summons for his hearing on May 5, as well as that of other influential members of the separatist movement, following a complaint filed by one of their dissidents for "kidnapping, arbitrary detention and torture" in the Tindouf prisons.
The tensions between Morocco and Spain over the hospitalization of Brahim Ghali, the Polisario leader, in a hospital in Logroño, near Zaragoza, under the borrowed name of Mohamed Ben Battouche, of Algerian nationality, are not subsiding. Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad, denounces the "à la carte relationship" that Madrid maintains with Rabat.
Expected at Real Madrid last summer after two years on loan at Borussia Dortmund, Moroccan international Achraf Hakim decided to move to Inter Milan due to a lack of guarantees regarding his playing time. Unless there is a last-minute turnaround, he could join the Casa Blanca to secure the right-back position of his training club.