A new controversy over citizenship has erupted in Spain: the National Court denied a Spanish passport to a woman of Moroccan origin, citing her close ties to individuals involved in cases related to radical Islam. The judges deemed that such circumstances make her a potential threat to national security, despite the absence of any charges or investigations against the applicant herself.
Arguments of the court and police
The decision, dated April 10, details the grounds for the denial. The key factor was a report from the Information Commissariat of the National Police, noting that the woman’s father was arrested in Valencia in 2016 for distributing materials related to the ideology of the ‘Islamic State.’ He was later deported from the country with a ten-year ban on re-entry. The applicant’s mother was also investigated on suspicion of links to radical groups, but the case did not go to trial. Nevertheless, she was also denied citizenship for similar reasons.
Special attention is also given to the woman’s current husband. He was arrested in Navarre in 2018 on suspicion of self-training with the aim of joining a terrorist organization, but was acquitted a year later due to insufficient evidence. Despite this, police emphasize that during his pre-trial detention, he maintained contact with other defendants in jihadism cases, and since his release, he has been under surveillance by the security services.
Reasons for refusal and the applicant’s response
The court noted that although the woman formally met the requirements regarding the period and legality of residence, her personal circumstances and family ties indicated insufficient integration and a lack of “an adequate level of civic integrity.” The case materials state that her father and future husband met in prison, where, according to the police, their marriage was arranged—a practice typical of certain radical groups.
The applicant tried to appeal the refusal, insisting on her impeccable reputation, lack of criminal record, and her full-time dedication to raising her two daughters who hold Spanish citizenship. She also emphasized that she received her education at Spanish institutions and has a diploma as a nursing assistant. However, the court did not accept these arguments and ordered her to pay the legal costs.
Context and consequences
The decision by the National Court can be appealed to the Supreme Court. The case has once again raised the issue of the criteria for assessing “civic integrity” when considering citizenship applications, especially in the context of combating radicalization. As noted by EL PAÍS, such cases are becoming increasingly common amid tougher migration procedures and stricter security controls.
Questions about the transparency and fairness of the procedures for obtaining citizenship in Spain have been raised before. For example, in Catalonia, archives faced a surge of requests for extracts needed for passport applications, which led to delays and suspicions of fraud — you can read more about this in the article on problems with Catalonia’s church archives.
