Tearing of Moroccan flag at Spanish protest sparks widespread debate

A protest by Spain’s far right took a more provocative turn when participants tore up Morocco’s national flag while chanting slogans hostile to the kingdom and its people.

The demonstrations brought immigration and relations with Morocco back into the spotlight. Spain’s far-right movements have long taken a hard line on immigration and repeatedly use Morocco and Moroccans as targets in their political messaging.

The status of Ceuta and Melilla, which Morocco claims and the article describes as occupied, was among the main issues linked to the protests. Immigration was another central point, reflecting the recurring tensions between Spain and Morocco.

This time, the demonstrations moved beyond political slogans. By tearing up the Moroccan flag, participants targeted one of the country’s most prominent national symbols. The act, alongside the anti-Morocco chants, highlighted the intensity of the rhetoric adopted by some elements of Spain’s far right and their continued use of immigration and Ceuta and Melilla in political campaigning.