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While Ceuta and Melilla are constitutionally Spanish autonomous cities today, labeling them simply as 'Spanish soil with an Iberian population' ignores history, legal facts, and modern demographics. Historically, these territories were part of Dar al-Islam and under the sovereignty of Moroccan sultanates before being seized during the 15th-century Reconquista. . Moroccan sultans never accepted their loss, waging centuries of military campaigns regarding the Schengen area is factually incorrect: Ceuta and Melilla are part of the Schengen zone; their unique border arrangement is a negotiated political derogation, not a geographic rule restricted to continental Europe calling the population strictly "Iberian" overlooks modern reality: over 50% of the residents are of Arab-Amazigh heritage, and the cultural demographic shift is so profound that major Islamic celebrations (Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha) are now recognized as official, paid public holidays in both Spanish cities Darija (Moroccan Arabic) and Tachelhit/Tarifit are spoken daily on the streets,and The call to prayer (Adhan) echoes through the various neighborhoods while not listed as non-self-governing territories by the UN, both the African Union and Morocco consider these enclaves historical vestiges of European colonialism on African soil For years, these two cities relied heavily on the trade crossing the land border (small merchants, goods exchanges, etc.). But Morocoo decided to completely block the movement of goods by land The fluid border of the past—where residents of Nador or Tetouan would cross into Melilla or Ceuta to shop or work for the day—no longer exists I know Melilla and its enclaves well, I was just there recently