Moroccan Heroes Who Saved Drowning Spaniard Granted Spanish Citizenship

The two Moroccans had each received a medal of merit from civil protection for this heroic act. A distinction that allowed them to apply for Spanish nationality by naturalization, granted by the Spanish government in exceptional cases. Their nationality application included proof of the rescue, as well as a criminal record issued by the Spanish and Moroccan authorities. The Spanish government has recently approved this request, thus granting Spanish nationality by naturalization to these two Moroccans. The decision has already been published in the Official State Gazette (BOE), reports El Español.

For Hamza and Abdessamad, it is a "dream" come true. Abdessamad legally arrived in Spain, specifically in Ceuta, at the age of 17. After two months in the autonomous city, he hid under a truck that boarded a ferry bound for Malaga. From there, he went to Barcelona, then to Lleida, where he was placed in a center for unaccompanied minors. Now 23 years old, Abdessamad lives with other young people in an apartment. The young man, who dreamed of becoming a professional footballer, admits to feeling at home in Lleida, despite the difficulties. He is actively looking for a job to support himself.

As for Hamza, he arrived in Spain at the age of 16, hidden under a truck. Like Abdessamad, he then joined Catalonia where he was placed in a youth center in Juneda. Upon reaching the age of majority, he moved to an apartment. After taking civil engineering courses at the Municipal Institute of Ocupació (IMO), he found a job in a demolition company. He is currently working on municipal projects. The two Moroccans see the acquisition of Spanish nationality as a "hope" to continue building their lives in Spain.