(Milan) – Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) asylum seekers in Spain’s North African enclave, Ceuta, are exposed to harassment and abuse, Human Rights Watch said today. Despite staff efforts, asylum seekers cannot get the care and services there to which they have the right under Spanish law. Police in Ceuta carry out border checks and block asylum seekers who try to leave the enclave for mainland Spain. I avoid everyone here to avoid problems.”A staff member told Human Rights Watch that other residents often “ridicule, harass, and attack” LGBT asylum seekers. Numerous Spanish court rulings have upheld the right of asylum seekers to freedom of movement within Spanish territory and ruled that preventing asylum seekers from traveling from the enclaves to the mainland constituted a violation of that right.

Source: The North Africa Journal April 28, 2017 04:30 UTC