Moroccan Gendarmes Accused of Extorting Spanish-Moroccan Women at Border

The events took place on Friday, reports the Nador Human Rights Association, which specifies that the Spanish women, residents of Melilla, were arrested by Moroccan gendarmes as they were going to the autonomous city after spending a vacation in Ifrane. The agents asked them for their identity documents and the vehicle papers.

While all their documents were in order, one of the agents informed the driver that her Spanish driver’s license was not valid in Morocco and that he would have to seize the vehicle. The women tried to reason with the Moroccan gendarmes. It was then that they demanded the sum of 200 dirhams (about 20 euros) before letting them go. Under pressure, the driver was forced to pay in order to be able to continue her journey.

This incident has caused outrage in the Moroccan community living in Spain. The two Spanish women of Moroccan origin denounced this abuse of authority and this case of corruption, stressing that these practices undermine the image of the Royal Gendarmerie and Morocco. They call for an investigation to sanction the agents. For the moment, the Royal Gendarmerie has not spoken out on this subject.