Viral Far-Right Videos Falsely Label Homeless Moroccan Migrants as Thieves in Spain

These live recordings are published on Instagram or TikTok by profiles linked to the far-right. The objective is to make false accusations against these homeless people, presenting them as thieves. These videos quickly become viral online, raising concerns among these young migrants who fear for their safety.

Mohammed, one of them, confided to La Vanguardia that he had been threatened by a group of individuals on the street. Of Moroccan origin, he arrived in Catalonia about six years ago, accompanied by his father who returned to Morocco. After a brief stay in a center for minors managed by the Generalitat, he found himself on the street at 18, spending nights in abandoned factories, parking lots, or train stations.

These recordings have been seen by his relatives in Morocco. "They told me they were very disappointed in me because they thought I came to Spain to work, not to steal. I told them I hadn’t done anything, but the damage is done," he lamented.

Other young migrants have found themselves in difficulty after the spread of these misleading videos. They were about to obtain a work permit, but "they no longer have hope when they see these videos made about them," said Yasser Souddane, the president of the ECCIT association, calling for support for these young people who "are subjected to these fake news."

The official explained that due to their irregular situation, these young migrants avoid filing complaints. "Many say nothing for fear of what might happen to them," regrets Souddane, who calls for the establishment of an office against racial hatred and discrimination at the Mossos level. "Race should not be a criterion for identifying a suspect."