The arrest of Mustapha Ahayk: a year and a half of uncertainty
Mustapha Ahayk has been locked in a cell for more than a year, awaiting a trial that could define his future. The events that led him to prison date back to June 14, 2023, when he was accused of having injured a neighbor and two police officers with a pellet gun from his residence in Lloberes de Baix, a small town located in Ripollès.
A hostile environment: Mustapha’s defense
Ahayk’s defense, led by lawyer Benet Salellas, argues that Mustapha’s actions were a response to an untenable situation. According to his version, he was the subject of a campaign of harassment by Naturalis Science Food, the company that owns the farm where he has lived since 2000, which wanted to force him to leave his home without offering him any viable alternative.
The harassment strategy and its consequences
Lawyer Salellas explained that, since 2020, Naturalis began acquiring properties in the area with the aim of creating a large hunting reserve. The situation was aggravated by the company’s decision to cut off basic supplies such as electricity, as well as by allegations that resulted in the death of animals on its farm.
The testimony of the community: a life marked by conflict
Neighbors in the area have testified to the deterioration of their relationship with Ahayk, who they say became increasingly distressed by the situation. Assumpta Duran, a neighbor who had shared an agreement with Ahayk, explained that he was visibly affected by the changes and the threats he had received.
Tensions and mutual accusations
On the other hand, some witnesses have provided a different view, indicating that Ahayk began to make threats towards the neighbors, thus raising tension in the community. A Mossos d’Esquadra officer who witnessed the events stated that Ahayk had expressed that his life had become impossible.
An uncertain future: expectations for the trial
With the trial date pending, Ahayk’s defense argues that his client has been the victim of a situation that has impaired his mental health and quality of life. Salellas believes that the actions of the property were not only immoral, but could constitute a misdemeanor offense rather than the serious charges against him.
The Ahayk case is not only an example of how property disputes can escalate into violence, but also illustrates the tensions between corporate exploitation and individual rights in a rural community. With each new twist in the story, community voices rise, revealing a deep divide between corporate interests and the lives of the people affected.