Hundreds Of Migrants Held In Jail In Spain
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published November 21, 2017 | 11:45 PM
Spain on Tuesday defended holding in prison nearly 500 migrants who arrived in the country by boat
Madrid, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Nov, 2017 ) :Spain on Tuesday defended holding in prison nearly 500 migrants who arrived in the country by boat. Following criticism by rights groups, the Spanish government said it was due to a lack of space at immigration detention centres.
"We feel it is better that the migrants be held in a centre with the latest technology, with sanitary facilities, showers, heating, beds, sports areas than to put them in camps like in other countries," Interior Minister Juan Ignacio Zoido told radio Onda Cero.
Just under a thousand migrants, mainly Algerians, arrived on several boats in the south of Spain since Thursday, according to the interior ministry. Half were intercepted near the coast of the southeastern region of Murcia and the "majority" of these were taken to a new jail that has yet to open in the southern town of Archidona near Malaga, local migrant rights group Malaga Acoge said.
"We are radically against this," the head of the group, Alejandro Cortina, told AFP. "We don't know it they will have staff authorised to detect human trafficking, or if a judge will monitor this facility" as is the case with immigration detention centres, he added.
Migrants who arrive in Spain by boat are usually initially detained in police facilities for identification and processing before being sent to an immigration detention centre while their asylum claim is processed.
The Jesuit Migration Service, which aids migrants at these centres, also criticised the decision to house migrants at the jail which is set to open its doors to prisoners next year, saying it violated "rights and constitutional guarantees" and "unfairly criminalises people".
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 17,687 migrants reached Spanish shores by boat between January 1 and November 15, compared to 5,445 during the same period in 2016.
While Italy received 114,000 migrants during this period, and Greece around 25,000, Spain is becoming an increasingly popular entry point into europe for migrants seeking to avoid passing through war-ravaged Libya.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 28 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 28 April 2024
Fresh wave of rainfall in AJK continues for the second consecutive day
Babar, bowlers help Pakistan level series 2-2 against New Zealand
Attack in restive Chilean province leaves three police officers dead
PM, Saudi Royal court advisor discuss ways to boost economic ties
England clinch third successive Women's Six Nations Grand Slam
DC Bahawalnagar leads fight for fair bread prices
Sheffield Utd relegated from Premier League
02 proclaimed offenders arrested by Wah Police
Pakistan level T20I series with nine-run victory over New Zealand
Minister meets Chinese Consul General, discusses bilateral cooperation, Chinese ..
More Stories From World
-
Ukraine army commander says situation 'worsened'
17 minutes ago -
Spanish MotoGP results
17 minutes ago -
Italian PM Meloni says will stand in EU Parliament elections
37 minutes ago -
Two-time defending world champion Bagnaia denies Marquez fairytale win
1 hour ago -
Pakistan Embassy Beijing to create platform for students, professionals to explore opportunities: Am ..
2 hours ago -
One man dead after migrant boat sinks off Greek island
2 hours ago
-
Tesla CEO Musk meets China's number two official in Beijing
3 hours ago -
Hamas official says delegation to respond to Gaza truce plan in Egypt Monday
3 hours ago -
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results
4 hours ago -
PM calls upon bridging gap between Global South, North in health sector
4 hours ago -
One man dead after migrant boat sinks off Greek island
4 hours ago -
Schools closed, warnings issued as Asia swelters in extreme heatwave
4 hours ago