Spanish Court Denies Citizenship to Moroccan Man Deemed Security Threat by Intelligence Agency

"He is not integrated into Spanish society and only deals with people of Moroccan and Muslim origin. He is linked to the ideology of the extremist Tabligh movement and advocates attitudes contrary to gender equality and the integration of Muslims into Spanish society," the CNI said in its report to which Hoy had access.

To read: article 93012

However, the Moroccan swore before the National High Court that he has no connection with the Tabligh movement. This was during the appeal made against the decision of the Directorate General of Registries and Notaries who refused him Spanish nationality in July 2019. He stressed that he has been residing in Spain since the age of 4 and is "more Spanish than Moroccan," according to a young woman who testified in his favor, having been his girlfriend from 2014 to 2017. "He is a peaceful and respectful person, who respects his space and is not sexist," she assures.

To read: Spanish Court Denies Citizenship to Moroccan Woman, Citing Poor Language Skills and Integration

A French teacher who said he taught the Moroccan from 2008 to 2011 also told the Court, during a hearing on September 5, 2019, that he did not notice anything abnormal in the Moroccan during that entire period. "I did not notice any strange attitude towards his Spanish companions," he said. According to another witness, a long-time friend of the Moroccan, "he is a kind, peaceful person and fully integrated into Spanish society."

Despite all these favorable testimonies for the Moroccan, the National Court considered that the CNI report is sufficient to refuse him citizenship.