Inshallah, an Arabic word meaning ” if God wills it” expresses a believer’s hope for a future event. This word captures the spirit of the project, which reflects the expectations, desires, and dreams of several Muslim youths living in the Príncipe Alfonso neighbourhood of Ceuta.
Passport of Hadil Ahmed Hossain (22). The worn and almost illegible country inscription conveys the marginalised condition of the inhabitants of the barrio Príncipe Alfonso: they are Spanish but of Muslim culture, European but on Moroccan soil. Their identity and their sense of belonging to a specific nation fade, like the writing on their passports.
Despite its Spanish-sounding name, El Príncipe is a predominantly Arab neighbourhood, geographically isolated on the hillside bordering Morocco, far from the city’s port, commercial areas, and tourist zones. The barrio has a complex and troubled history, often associated over the past two decades with violent drug trafficking and episodes of radicalisation, including jihadism. Today, youth distress and crime reflect a deep social fracture, one that can only be healed by addressing the root causes of social exclusion, school dropout, and chronic unemployment.
Mohamed Hassan Mustafa (23 years old)
His gaze is still focused and alert. Mohamed is portrayed just moments after finishing a football match with his friends. He is a determined and self-aware young man: he feels Spanish, not Moroccan, and dreams of becoming a successful singer. There is no hesitation in him: he will stay and live in Ceuta, the city where he was born.