Official: Spanish MPs question the Government on the Hichem Aboud Abduction

A group of Spanish MPs, led by Francisco Javier Ortega Smith-Molina, Madrid representative, councillor and VOX spokesman at the Madrid Municipal Assembly, and his colleagues from the same party, have officially questioned the Spanish government via a written parliamentary question, concerning the kidnapping and release of Algerian journalist and writer Hichem Aboud in Barcelona.
The written parliamentary question (registration number 48199) was submitted on November 11, 2024 and published in the Official Bulletin of the Cortes Generales on November 25, 2024 under the title: “The kidnapping of Algerian journalist and writer Hichem Aboud in Barcelona (184/016897)”.

The initiative demands precise answers on the nationality of the arrested suspects, their legal status in Spain, their criminal background, and any connections with criminal organizations.
The move comes after the Guardia Civil rescued Hichem Aboud in Lebrija (Sevilla), where he had been found bound and gagged as two individuals attempted to board a ship. The suspects are currently in custody while the investigation continues.
The case has attracted international attention, particularly following attempts to discredit Aboud’s testimony. Nadia Pajaron, spokeswoman for the Spanish Police Union, formally denied the allegations concerning Aboud’s alleged Moroccan nationality, putting an end to the rumors that had been circulating.
The Spanish government has until December 19, 2024 to respond to the questions raised. This parliamentary initiative is part of a wider context of press freedom and the safety of journalists are increasingly in the spotlight, notably with the session in the European Parliament on Wednesday November 27 to discuss the illegal arrest of Boualem Sansal, the Franco-Algerian writer, in a context marked by an aggressive media campaign in Algeria targeting intellectuals such as Sansal and Kamel Daoud, and where European democracies are facing complex challenges in terms of safety and respect for fundamental rights. The Spanish government’s response to these questions is therefore eagerly awaited, and will be closely followed by national and international observers.
With this initiative, VOX MPs appear to be sending out a clear message that acts of violence and intimidation against journalists and dissident voices will not be tolerated, and that justice will prevail.

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