View source for Alhucemas Islands

{{Short description|Island group}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2013}}
{{Infobox islands
| disputed           = yes
| local_name         = Islas Alhucemas
| name               = Alhucemas Islands
| image_name         = Alhucemas-island map1.jpg
| image_size         = 300px
| image_caption      = Map of the Ahucemas Islands
| location           = [[Alboran Sea]]
| coordinates        = {{Coord|35.215|-3.896|type:isle_region:ES|display=it}}
| total_islands      = 3
| area_km2           = 0.046
| elevation_m        = 27
| country            = {{ESP}} since 1560
| country1           = {{MOR}}
| population         = RAMIX-32 [[garrison]]
| languages          = [[Spanish language|Spanish]]
| ethnic_groups      = [[Spaniards]]
| additional_info    = 
}}

[[File:Alhucemas Islands Penon.jpg|thumb|The Alhucemas Islands, c. 1950s]]
[[File:Peñón de Alhucemas desde la costa marroquí.jpg|thumb|Peñón de Alhucemas, viewed from the Moroccan coast]]
[[File:Mapa del sur de España neutral.png|thumb|right|220px|Spanish possessions in North Africa]]

The '''Alhucemas Islands''' ({{langx|es|Islas Alhucemas}}, {{langx|ar|جزر الحسيمة}}) are a group of three [[Islet|islets]] under [[Spain|Spanish]] sovereignty located in the Bay of [[Al Hoceima]], in the [[Alboran Sea]]. They have historically been classified as "minor places of sovereignty" within the ''[[plazas de soberanía]]''.

The islands are part of [[Spain|Spain's]] [[Plazas de soberanía]] and is under Spanish administration, however they are also claimed by [[Morocco]] as part of its territory alongside other [[Plazas de Soberanía|Spanish overseas territories in Northern Africa]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sovereignlimits.com/boundaries/morocco-land|title=Morocco–Spain (Ceuta, Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera & Melilla)|publisher=Sovereign Limits|access-date=23 April 2025}}</ref>

==Overview==
Peñón de Alhucemas, together with the islets of Isla de Mar and Isla de Tierra slightly to the west, form the Alhucemas Islands. They are located {{convert|300|m|0|abbr=off}} off the Moroccan town of [[Al Hoceima]], or ''Alhucemas'' (former Villa Sanjurjo), {{convert|146|km|0|abbr=in}} east of [[Ceuta]] and {{convert|84|km|0|abbr=in}} west of [[Melilla]]. The aggregate land area of the group of three islands is 4.6 ha or {{convert|0.046|km2|3|abbr=out}}.

*Peñón de Alhucemas ({{IPA|es|peˈɲon de aluˈθemas}}, "Lavender Rock", {{coord|35.2135|-3.8895|type:isle_region:ES|display=inline|name=Peñón de Alhucemas}}) is a tiny rock island, measuring {{convert|220|m|0|abbr=on}} east-west and up to {{convert|84|m|0|abbr=on}} north-south, with an area 1.5 [[hectare|ha]] or {{convert|0.015|km2|3|abbr=on}}, and a height of {{convert|27|m|0|abbr=on}}. The rock is entirely occupied by a [[fort]], several houses, and a church. It is one of several ''[[peñón|peñon]]es'', or rock-fortresses, off the coast of Northern Africa.
*Isla de Tierra ({{coord|35.2152|-3.9026|type:isle_region:ES|display=inline|name=Isla de Tierra}}) is a steep, {{convert|11|m|0|abbr=on}} high rocky platform, {{convert|114|m|0|abbr=on}} north of the Moroccan beach, {{convert|192|m|0|abbr=on}} long northeast–southwest, and up to {{convert|87|m|0|abbr=on}} wide, yielding an area of 1.7 ha or {{convert|0.017|km2|3|abbr=on}}.
*Isla de Mar ({{coord|35.2176|-3.9008|type:isle_region:ES|display=inline|name=Isla de Mar}}) is a flat, {{convert|4|m|0|abbr=on}} high islet, with its western end {{convert|93|m|0|abbr=on}} north of Isla de Tierra, {{convert|245|m|0|abbr=on}} long east–west, up to {{convert|70|m|0|abbr=on}} wide, yielding an area of 1.4 ha or {{convert|0.014|km2|3|abbr=on}}.
[[File:Alhucemas penon calle de Dom Miguel.jpg|thumb|120px|Spanish family on a street of the peñón c. 1915]]
Spanish rule dates back to 1559, when the [[Saadi dynasty|Saadis]] ceded several territories to Spain in exchange for Spanish help against [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] armies. In 1673, Spain sent a garrison to the island of Peñón de Alhucemas, and has permanently occupied it since then. The islands are also located near the landing place the Spanish and French expeditionary forces used in 1925 during the [[Rif War (1920)|Rif War]]. Morocco has contested Spanish sovereignty over the islets since Morocco received its independence in 1956.

In 2012 the Spanish military garrison in the fort on Peñón de Alhucemas comprised an infantry section of 25–30 men from the 32nd Mixed Artillery Regiment, plus personnel from the marine services with an inflatable boat for reaching supply vessels.<ref name = ElPais>Ceberia, Monica et al (17 September 2012) [http://elpais.com/elpais/2012/09/17/inenglish/1347895561_857013.html The last remains of the empire] El Pais in English, Retrieved 24 September 2012</ref>

On 29 August 2012, 19 sub-Saharan immigrants traversed the short expanse of water between Morocco and the Isla de Tierra.<ref name="ElPais" /> These individuals camped on the island, hoping to somehow gain access to the Spanish mainland. They were shortly joined by an additional 68 immigrants on 2 September 2012.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Non-Self-Governing Territories {{!}} The United Nations and Decolonization |url=https://www.un.org/dppa/decolonization/en/nsgt |access-date=2025-08-04 |website=www.un.org}}</ref> Refugees and illegal immigration from sub-Saharan nations have been a problem that Spain, and the European Union as a whole, has been trying to solve. Since the islets had an "undefined internal status", the immigrants did not benefit from the Spanish immigration laws and, under a joint operation, Spanish troops tended to the women, children, and medical needs of the immigrants, then turned them back over to Morocco.<ref name="ElPais" /> Moroccan forces promptly deported the individuals across the Algerian border. The Spanish Army has since stationed a small camp on the Isla de Tierra to discourage new attempts to illegally cross into Spanish territory.<ref>Ceberio Balaza, Monica (7 September 2012) [http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2012/09/07/actualidad/1347044874_742026.html El Ejército ‘ocupa’ Isla de Tierra (The army "occupies" Isla de Tierra]  El Pais Politica (in Spanish), Retrieved 24 September 2012</ref> The handling and deportation of these individuals have been criticized by the Ombudsman of the Spanish Parliament, the Defensor del Pueblo, and by various NGOs and organizations.<ref>Diez, Anabel et al (6 September 2012) [http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2012/09/06/actualidad/1346960011_258815.html La Defensora pide aclaraciones a Interior por la entrega de inmigrantes a Marruecos (The Ombudsman asks for clarification from the Interior Ministry concerning the delivery of immigrants to Morocco)] El Pais Politica (in Spanish), Retrieved 24 September 2012</ref>

==See also==
* [[Plazas de soberanía]]
* [[List of Spanish colonial wars in Morocco]]
* [[Spanish Protectorate of Morocco]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Administrative divisions of Spain}}
{{Outlying territories of European countries}}
{{Countries and territories of North Africa}}

[[Category:Islands of Africa]]
[[Category:Islands of Spain]]
[[Category:Mediterranean islands]]
[[Category:Plazas de soberanía]]
[[Category:Territorial disputes of Spain]]
[[Category:Peñón|Alhucemas]]
[[Category:Sea forts]]