Moroccan Gay Couples Targeted in Malaga Hate Crime Attacks, Three Arrested

The accused attacked their victims on August 31 and September 2 in the center of Malaga. Two men first suffered verbal abuse from a group of young Moroccans because of their sexual orientation, before being attacked by the latter. During the attack, one of them received a blow to the head, according to sources close to the case at El Confidencial. The victims, also of Moroccan origin, filed a complaint with the police, providing them with information that allowed them to identify some of the alleged perpetrators. The agents managed to arrest them and remand them in custody.

To read: Moroccan Teen Stabbed in Suspected Homophobic Attack in Madrid Park

Two days later, other young people from the same group were arrested for their alleged participation in another homophobic attack. The victims, two young Moroccan women this time, told the police that they had been attacked by around twenty young Moroccans in the same neighborhood of the city. One of them, injured in the head, had to receive care in a health center, which required three stitches. Thanks to the information provided by the two women, and after conducting investigations, the agents proceeded to arrest three young people, presumed authors of these acts.

To read: Moroccan Man Visiting from Spain Suffers Brutal Homophobic Attack in Kenitra

The detainees admitted to having attacked their compatriots because they "brought them shame" because of their sexual orientation. According to data from the Spanish Ministry of the Interior, 610 complaints for hate crimes were recorded in the country at the end of June 2021, an increase of 9.3% compared to the same period last year. Most of these crimes are based on racism, xenophobia and sexual orientation.