Join on WhatsApp
Join on Telegram
Rabat – The Spanish government refused to let in an Algerian jet in its territories, many local outlets reported earlier today. There are suggestions that the airplane was intending to secretly take Polisario leader Brahim Ghali back to Algeria amid the ongoing crisis surrounding his presence on Spanish soil.
The aircraft, which is said to belong to the Algerian Air Force, entered Spain and was “circling over the Peninsula,” El Mundo reported today.
The aircraft reached Ibiza Island but made a U-turn to return to Algeria, El Confidencial said.
The timing of the flight raised further suspicions in the case of Brahim Ghali, with the Polisario leader scheduled to give a virtual testimony to Spain’s National Court earlier today. As the latest developments suggest that Ghali could be prosecuted for being linked to various first-degree crimes, it is understood the suspicious Algerian military flight may have been trying to smuggle the Polisario chief out of Spain.
El Mundo said Spanish authorities denied access to the Algerian flight and it returned to Algeria, where it landed this morning at 10:30 a.m. The Spanish news outlet also suggested that the Algerian jet was planning to take Ghali out of Spain amid tensions between Rabat and Madrid.
In another report on the suspicious plane, La Razon quoted Spanish government spokesperson Maria Jesus Montero as saying that she has “no “record” about the Algerian plane that was hovering around Spain to take Ghali away.
El Confidencial said the Gulfstream 2000 airplane belongs to the Agerian presidency.
The news outlet added that the plane took off at 8 a.m. and was scheduled to land at Agoncillo airport, near the Logrono hospital, where Ghali receives medical care.
Ghali entered Spain with a fake identity and an Algerian diplomatic passport under the name of Mohamed Ben Battouch.
Spain allowed Ghali to enter its territory despite his well-established criminal record. Ghali is facing several charges, including genocide, torture, rape, illegal detention, and kidnapping.
After weeks of reluctance, the Polisario leader accepted to appear before Spain’s highest court to give his statement regarding the many criminal charges against him.
A number of media have already posted the first statements of some of Ghali’s victims.
Fadel Breika is one of the complainants who was kidnapped and tortured by Polisario from June 18 to November 10, 2019.
Breika said Ghali’s appearance in court is oly “the beginning of a trial, which will also include other leaders of the ‘Polisario’ separatist gang.”
He expressed confidence in the Spanish justice system, saying that he believes will take appropriate measures to hold Ghali accountable for his heinous acts.
Another complainant is Pedro Igancio Altamirano, who said he received death threats from Polisario.
“The appearance of this criminal is only the beginning,” said Altamirano.
He added that this case will “pave the way for the prosecution of other criminals in the leadership of the ‘Polisario’ responsible for the crimes committed” against Spanish victims and also Sahrawis living in inhuman conditions in Tindouf.
