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Spain: Legionnaires raze Muslim district

01 March 1996

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On 10 March 300 troops of the Spanish Foreign Legion, chanting "The Legion, united, will never be defeated", caused extensive damage to commercial premises in a mainly-Muslim district of the Melilla enclave, and assaulted many passers-by. The events followed the death of a legionnaire in a fight with a Muslim soldier in a disco. The legionnaires' officers, far from obstructing the reprisal, positively encouraged it and in some cases joined in. Although local and military police were present, they at no point intervened to halt the destruction. After the events the commander of the Legion and of the guard unit were placed under arrest, and the legionnaires were confined to barracks. Hundreds of local Muslims took part in a demonstration on the following day, calling for the withdrawal of the Legion from Melilla. SOS-Racismo, moreover, called for the Legion to be disbanded. Kontrola Kontrolpean, Euskadi (Spain).

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