From Murcia to Catalonia, from Torre Pacheco to Piera, Moroccan residents in Spain have recently experienced a wave of violence and fear, recalling some of the darkest moments of xenophobia in Europe.
Targeted attacks, incitement to hate, arson, and open threats have spread – and Moroccan authorities remain glaringly silent.
Violence erupts in Torre Pacheco
In Torre Pacheco (Murcia), several Moroccan nationals were attacked by far-right groups wielding sticks and stones, targeting their homes and businesses.
The violence reportedly stemmed from an alleged assault involving a Moroccan youth and an elderly Spaniard – yet without verified proof.
Despite intervention by the Civil Guard, several injuries were reported. Still, no official response has come from Morocco’s foreign ministry or its consulates in Spain.
“Bloody war” threats spread online
Disturbingly, far-right digital accounts have been circulating videos threatening to launch a “bloody war against Moroccans” on July 19.
These threats have deeply shaken neighborhoods with a high Moroccan presence, especially in Murcia and Catalonia.
Islamic center attacked near Barcelona
Amid this climate, an Islamic center in Piera (near Barcelona) was attacked and set on fire during the night.
Authorities suspect an act of revenge fueled by Islamophobia and anti-Moroccan rhetoric.
The attack has reignited memories of Younes Bilal, a Moroccan youth fatally shot in Murcia in 2021 by a racist extremist shouting slurs.
Other incidents, like pig heads placed outside mosques, have also shocked the community.
The largest foreign community — but unprotected
With over 1.1 million residents, Moroccans are the largest foreign community in Spain.
More than 261,000 have acquired Spanish nationality since 2018, yet many remain trapped in a legal limbo between the two countries: Spain demands nationality renunciation, while Morocco does not recognize the loss of its citizenship.
Institutional vacuum from Morocco
In response to recent events, the Union of Islamic Communities of Spain called for urgent government action to protect Islamic centers and prosecute hate crimes.
Yet from Moroccan institutions: absolute silence.
This raises serious concerns: Where is the diplomacy? Where is the state’s duty to protect its diaspora?
Are Moroccans abroad only seen as a source of remittances?
A call for urgent action before it’s too late
The threats of July 19 are being taken seriously.
The Moroccan community in Spain cannot be left alone. Moroccan diplomacy must speak out, consulates must activate emergency mechanisms, and officials must uphold their responsibility to protect their citizens.
Because beyond economic figures, these are lives, communities, and a national capital no country should abandon.
