arno brignon

Photographer
Untitled
Biography: Version:1.0 StartHTML:0000000167 EndHTML:0000001419 StartFragment:0000000454 EndFragment:0000001403 I was born in 1976 in Paris. Being a social worker in the working-class districts of Toulouse (France), photography is for me a mean to share... MORE
Public Story
Untitled
Copyright arno brignon 2024
Updated Dec 2012
Topics Ceuta, Documentary, Editorial, Photography, photojournalism, Spain, Still life

End of Europe in Ceuta

 

Ceuta is a reflection in the waters of the Strait of Gibraltar of an Europe in crisis. Surrounded by a hi­gh security fence, it looks like a trap in which migrant Moroccans and Spaniards seem stuck waiting for promises of better days...

 In the extreme south of Europe, Ceuta (Sebta in Arabic), a Spanish enclave in Morocco territory, is the gateway from Europe to Africa located 17 km away from the other pillar of Hercules: Gibraltar.

 The border looks very impressive but it is not so tight. Many potential immigrants cross it expecting to find here an entry to Europe. In the other direction all kinds of goods enter to feed the Moroccan market. Ceuta as a Free Zone, and tax haven, is also the realm of small business and financial settlements. A trade tolerated by the authorities, because it makes the fortune of the Spanish community, is organized with the Moroccan border. Goods are moving on the back of Moroccan women, real mules.

 72,000 people live in this so special city. "La convivencia", a declared policy of coexistence between the four dominant communities (Hindu, Jewish, Christian and Muslim) is now a reality in the workplace but does not seem to be so harmonious a coexistence. The Muslim community is the largest in number but is particularly affected by unemployment, underperforming at school, and housing problems.

 In Ceuta, the police, army, customs are everywhere, but the law is often a matter of small arrangements .

LinkedIn Icon Facebook Icon Twitter Icon
2,155

Also by arno brignon —

Story

End of Europe in Ceuta

arno brignon
Story

Joséphine

arno brignon
Untitled by arno brignon
Sign-up for
For more access