Asylum denied in Spain

A military justice reform issue has emerged in Spain -- but it concerns Morocco. At issue is whether Spain erred in denying asylum to a civilian who was sentenced to life imprisonment by a Moroccan military court for participating in the Gdeim Izikin protest encampment in Western Sahara. The latest development is a hunger strike in support of the asylum-seeker, Hassana Aalia. at the Madrid airport. Morocco last year announced the end of military trials for civilians, with considerable fanfare. How is that reconciled with this case? Will the European Court of Human Rights -- assuming its jurisdiction is invoked -- find Spain's denial of asylum a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights? But will it be too late for this defendant? He is due to be deported by February 4.