Two Sahrawis who arrived in Spain seeking medical treatment have had their asylum requests turned down by Spanish authorities. Despite claiming they could not receive adequate treatment in Morocco’s southern cities, the Spanish Ministry of the Interior rejected their applications.

Reports from local media revealed that the individuals from Laayoune submitted their asylum requests in Madrid, supported by medical reports detailing their “mental and physical disabilities.” This denial reflects Spain’s shift towards supporting Morocco’s position on the Sahara, leading to stricter evaluation of asylum claims from the southern regions.

According to Ramadan Massoud, president of the Sahrawi Association for the Defense of Human Rights in Madrid, Spain’s approach to asylum applications has recently changed. There is a growing concern that some are fabricating human rights issues to exploit asylum opportunities and gain refugee status benefits.

With an improved human rights climate in Morocco, the authorities in Spain are now cracking down on fraudulent claims and manipulation of the asylum system by certain groups. The exploitation of human rights incidents to pressure the Spanish government is being addressed, signaling a shift in Spain’s response to such tactics.