Amnesty International Deplores Torture and ill-treatment of ethnic minorities and foreigners in Spain
Regional-Spain, Culture, 4/19/2002

Amnesty International deplored in a report published this week an increase in the cases of torture and ill-treatment of minorities in Spain between 1995 and 2002, mentioning over 320 cases of race-related ill-treatment against people from 17 different countries, including Morocco, Colombia and Nigeria.

"Men, women and children have been verbally abused, physically ill-treated, arbitrarily detained, and in some cases tortured," stated Gillian Fleming, Amnesty International's researcher on Spain.

"The cases we have documented show a pattern of violation by law enforcement officers of the rights of members of ethnic minorities or persons of non-Spanish origin. Discrimination against these people, tolerated by the authorities, makes them especially vulnerable to torture and ill-treatment by state officials."

Despite the existence of laws that attempt to guard against discriminatory or arbitrary conduct by state agents, "racial profiling" is common. The discriminatory use of identity controls has given rise to the current situation whereby many people of foreign origin have suffered abuse and ill-treatment in Spain.

The report also cites a large number of deaths in custody and failure to conduct thorough, prompt and impartial investigations, rape and sexual abuses against undocumented women immigrants, incidents of ill-treatment and inappropriate use of restraints during expulsions from Spain, failure to provided adequate legal protection and care to unaccompanied children who have been removed from Spanish territory and impunity against authors of these abuses.

AI further criticizes Spain for allowing police officers with criminal records, or against whom disciplinary proceedings are still pending to continue to work while those who have tried to take measures to ensure the protection of human rights have been punished.

In addition, AI says, many of these events have been supported by the racist statements made by public figures, including politicians.

"The Spanish authorities must decide whether their identity in the 21st century is to be founded on racist attitudes and abusive practices, or tolerance of diversity and respect for human rights," said Gillian Fleming.

Amnesty International called on the Spanish authorities to adopt a national strategy and plan of action to combat all forms of racism. This should include specific measures to prevent torture and ill-treatment and related manifestations in the administration of justice. Worth noting that there are many immigrants and workers from the Arab states residing in Spain.

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