Spanish minister halts deportation of pro-Polisario activist

A new development has emerged regarding the decision by the Spanish judiciary to expel Youssef El Mahmoudi, a Moroccan national who describes himself as a «Sahrawi activist». The order issued on Thursday by the Audiencia Nacional to deport him back to Morocco has been suspended following the intervention of Sira Rego, the Spanish Minister for Youth and Childhood from the United Left party.

In a letter addressed to Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska (PSOE), Rego requested «provisional» authorization for the young man to enter Spain «on humanitarian grounds». She stated that «the activist has been persecuted for his commitment to the defense of Western Sahara. Sending him back to Morocco would put him in grave danger».

Following Rego's intervention, Youssef El Mahmoudi was able to leave Bilbao airport, where he had been held for ten days. He is scheduled to appear before a judge on Monday to examine his request for asylum.

For the record, the Polisario representation in the Basque Country and several NGOs held a sit-in protest on Thursday in front of the headquarters of the Spanish government delegation in Bilbao.