Perejil Island

Coordinates: 35°54′50″N 5°25′08″W / 35.91389°N 5.41889°W / 35.91389; -5.41889
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
(Redirected from
Isla Perejil
)

For the armed conflict, see Perejil Island crisis.
Perejil Island
Arabic: تورة
  • English: Parsley Island
    • View of Perejil Island from the Moroccan coast with the European shore of Spain on the horizon
    Map
    Geography
    LocationStrait of Gibraltar
    Coordinates35°54′50″N 5°25′08″W / 35.91389°N 5.41889°W / 35.91389; -5.41889
    Total islands1
    Area15 ha (37 acres)
    Highest point74 metres (243 ft)
    Administration
    Claimed by
     Morocco
    Demographics
    PopulationUninhabited
    Spanish territories in North Africa
    Isla de Perejil in relation to Ceuta
    An aerial view of the island and the mainland

    Perejil Island (

    Arabic: تورة, romanized: Tūra), also known as Parsley Island, is a small, uninhabited rocky islet located 200 metres (660 ft) off the coast of Morocco. It is administered by Spain as one of the plazas de soberanía, and its sovereignty is disputed by Morocco. It was the subject of an armed incident between the two countries in 2002
    .

    Name

    The name Isla de Perejil literally means "

    Berber name is Tura, meaning "empty".[2] It is sometimes referred to in Arabic as "Jazirat al-Ma'danus" (Arabic: جزيرة معدنوس), which is a translation of "Parsley Island".[3]

    In Moroccan historical references, it is only known as "Tura". In his speech to the Moroccan people commemorating the "Throne Day" on 30 July 2002, the King of Morocco used the name "Tura" exclusively, when he mentioned the armed incident with Spain over the island.[4]

    Geography

    The island lies 250 metres (820 feet) off the coast of

    above sea level
    .

    History

    In 1415,

    Philip I of Portugal, who was also King of Spain, creating an Iberian Union
    under one king, without unifying the countries. When the Union split in 1640, Ceuta remained under Spanish sovereignty.

    Spain-Morocco disputes

    Main article: Perejil Island crisis

    The islet's sovereignty is disputed by

    exclaves of Ceuta and Melilla.[citation needed
    ]

    On the morning of 18 July 2002, Spain launched

    Guardia Civil in Ceuta, who then transported the cadets to the Moroccan border. Over the course of the day, the Spanish Legion replaced the commandos and remained on the island until Morocco, after mediation by the United States, led by Colin Powell,[6] agreed to return to the status quo ante
    which existed prior to the Moroccan occupation of the island. The islet is now deserted.

    Sovereignty

    Perejil Island has no permanent human population. Goats are pastured there, and the Moroccan government expressed worries that smugglers and terrorists, in addition to illegal immigrants, were using the island. The island is well monitored from both sides in order to maintain the status quo that leaves it deserted and virtually a no man's land.

    Morocco wants to control the Spanish cities Ceuta and Melilla along with several small rocks and islets off the coast of Morocco. The crisis over Perejil Island was seen by the Spanish government as a way for Morocco to test the waters in regard to Spain's will to defend Ceuta and Melilla.[7]

    Migration

    In June 2014, Spain requested that the Moroccan forces enter the island to expel sub-Saharan migrants.[8]

    Popular culture

    The international incident is recounted in a 2016 film, La Isla, which is largely based on the facts of the dispute.

    better source needed
    ]

    See also

    References

    1. ^ John Purdy (1840). The New Sailing Directory for the Strait of Gibraltar and the Western Division of the Mediterranean Sea: Comprehending the Coasts of Spain, France, and Italy, from Cape Trafalgar to Cape Spartivento, the Balearic Isles, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily and the Maltese Islands, with the African Coast, from Tangier to Tripoli, Inclusive ... Improved, by Considerable Additions, to the Present Times. R.H. Laurie. p. 7. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
    2. ^ [Arabic entry:"خوي" (empty)] in the Arabic-Berber Dictionary by Mohamed Chafik, vol.1, page 346, published by the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco [1]
    3. ^ كوهن، عبد الرحمن (2004). الدعوة الى الاصلاح: مجموعة افتتاحيات أسبوعية الاصلاح، شتنبر 2002، يونيو 2004 (in Arabic). Retrieved 8 July 2013.
    4. ^ King of Morocco speech on 30 July 2002 mentioning Tura island. [Official French translation from Arabic. In the French translation, the name "Tura" is rendered: "Toura".] "Portail national du Maroc". Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
    5. ISBN 978-84-9949-270-4
      . Retrieved 8 July 2013.
    6. ^ Linnee, Susan (23 July 2002). "Spain and Morocco agree to differ over Perejil". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
    7. ^ Ceberia, Monica et al. (17 September 2012) The last remains of the empire El País in English, Retrieved 24 September 2012
    8. ^ "Las fuerzas marroquíes entran en Perejil y devuelven a los 13 inmigrantes llegados a la isla española". 3 June 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
    9. IMDb Edit this at Wikidata

    External links

    Wikimedia Commons has media related to Isla Perejil.
    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Perejil_Island&oldid=1218661180"