Morocco is considering suspending its extradition agreement with Spain. This was announced by Moroccan Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi, who pointed to the difficulties Rabat faces in securing the handover of wanted or convicted individuals arrested in Spain.
According to the minister's statements to the Spanish agency Efe, the issue particularly affects some procedures initiated at the request of Moroccan authorities that never reach completion. Ouahbi claims that after the arrest and identification of the wanted person in Spain, a handover date is set. However, when Moroccan agents arrive to take custody, the process sometimes halts without the extradition being carried out.
This situation has led the Justice Ministry to question the usefulness of the agreement itself. Cooperation in this matter is governed by the bilateral convention signed in Rabat on June 24, 2009, which came into force in September 2012. The agreement regulates, under certain conditions, the handover of wanted or convicted individuals located in the other country's territory, while excluding the extradition of their respective citizens.
One of the most sensitive issues is the difference between the two legal systems regarding the death penalty. In Morocco, the death penalty is still part of the penal code and can be imposed by the courts, although executions have been halted since 1993. In Spain, it is abolished. The risk that an extradited person might face the death penalty can therefore be an obstacle to the handover.
The judicial tension arises during a sensitive phase in the relations between Madrid and Rabat, also marked by the management of migration flows to Ceuta and Melilla. Additionally, the situation of Moroccan minors in Ceuta, for whom Rabat has requested repatriation, is on the table. Ouahbi described the issue as "extremely complex and highly politicized," arguing that some dossiers concerning Morocco end up being influenced by political and electoral considerations.
The European Commission has also commented on the possible suspension of the extradition agreement. Brussels has stated that it is aware of the Moroccan minister's declarations, but clarified that the agreement between Madrid and Rabat is "a bilateral issue."
The EU is instead focusing on border control and repatriations. Regarding the risk of new irregular entries into Ceuta, a Commission spokesperson emphasized that the goal is to ensure border management throughout the year, without tying it to specific dates or potential migration peaks. Brussels also recalled the close cooperation between Spain and Morocco to combat irregular crossings and manage repatriations.
(Associated Medias) - All rights reserved