22 judicial complaints filed against Moroccan consul in the Canary Islands, Fatiha El Kamouri, over accusations of racism and professional harassment
The Consul General of the Kingdom of Morocco in the Canary Islands archipelago, Fatiha El Kamouri, is facing serious human rights and judicial accusations, described in internal accounts as a “reign of terror” inside the diplomatic mission. Four locally employed staff members have filed 22 judicial and administrative complaints against her over the past three years, with no implementation, according to the same sources, of court rulings issued against the consulate to date.
An investigative report published by the Spanish newspaper El Independiente reveals that the working environment inside the Consulate General in Las Palmas, previously described as stable and orderly for years, has turned since September 2022 into what complainants describe as a “real hell,” prompting most local staff to rely on long-term sick leave due to acute anxiety and depression.
Racism and professional harassment: testimonies from the judicial record
According to statements from local employees and diplomatic personnel cited by the Spanish newspaper, the accusations primarily concern locally contracted staff operating under Spanish labour law. The consul is accused of exerting pressure and engaging in “degrading practices” aimed at forcing resignations and the waiver of legal rights.
Documented cases include:
- A cleaning worker of Ecuadorian origin who was subjected, according to court records, to repeated insults and racist and degrading treatment by the consul, ultimately accepting a settlement of €32,000 for unfair dismissal and leaving the post due to psychological inability to continue.
- An administrative employee, referred to as “Mohamed” (pseudonym), who had worked at the consulate since 2008 in reception and administrative duties. Following El Kamouri’s appointment, he was unilaterally reassigned without legal notification to the position of “personal driver on permanent standby.” The Labour Court No. 9 in Las Palmas established evidence of systematic marginalisation, shouting, and desk-banging incidents, resulting in hypertension and a nervous breakdown, and ordered the consulate to cease harassment and pay €20,000 in moral damages.
Government inaction and obstruction of judicial enforcement
Documents indicate that employees initially attempted an amicable resolution two months after the consul’s arrival, submitting a collective letter demanding an end to what they described as abusive conduct. Copies of the letter were sent to senior officials including Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, the Spanish Ombudsman Ángel Gabilondo, and the Government Delegate in the Canary Islands Anselmo Pestana. No official response was reportedly received from any of the institutions.
Following this, the complainants initiated judicial proceedings. Although Spanish labour courts and labour inspectorates ruled in favour of the employees in approximately half of the cases—ordering compensation exceeding €79,000—the consulate has refused to execute the rulings. Only one employee, identified as “Sofia” (pseudonym), recovered €18,000 after a procedural error by the consulate’s legal representative, who filed an appeal outside the legal deadline.
The consulate is also accused of delaying proceedings, while Fatiha El Kamouri has refused to appear before Canary Islands courts to justify non-compliance with judicial decisions. The withdrawal of the consulate’s lawyer earlier this year has further delayed the proceedings.
Previous cases involving Moroccan consulates in Spain
The Canary Islands case has revived earlier judicial precedents involving Moroccan diplomatic missions in Spain, particularly in Murcia, where former consul Sidi Mohamed Beddou was convicted by Spanish courts of sexual, verbal, and professional harassment against a female employee who described him as a “sexual predator.”
Following Morocco’s refusal to pay court-ordered compensation exceeding €50,000, Spanish judicial authorities proceeded to an exceptional enforcement measure, freezing consular bank accounts to recover damages. Other cases linked to the same consulate have included criminal incidents involving hit-and-run allegations and alleged illicit financial activity related to migrant repatriation services.
Human rights observers in the Canary Islands are closely monitoring whether Spanish courts will resort to similar enforcement measures, including the possible seizure of consular funds, to ensure compliance with labour rulings and uphold workers’ rights within diplomatic missions.
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