Is Free Speech at Risk in Spain?

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Spanish riot police clash with protesters after rapper arrested 

Rubber bullets fired at crowds in Madrid day after Pablo Hasél was detained on charges of glorifying terrorism 

Police have fired teargas, rubber bullets and sound bombs at thousands of protesters in Madrid, the day after a rapper was arrested on charges of glorifying terrorism and insulting royalty in his songs. 

Protests in the capital’s central Plaza de Sol square were initially peaceful, with people clapping their hands in unison and chanting, “No more police violence” and “Freedom for Pablo Hasél”, the rapper detained in the Catalan city of Lleida on Tuesday. 

But police charged into the crowd wielding batons after a few protesters began throwing glass bottles and stones that they had loosened from the pavement. Some protesters responded by setting fire to containers to create barricades in the narrow Madrid streets. 

In Barcelona, police also fired rubber bullets into the crowd on Wednesday, injuring a Reuters reporter on the ground. 

When Catalan protesters began throwing projectiles at the armoured vans, the Mossos retaliated by shooting rubber bullets at head height. As the riots appeared to stagnate, large stretches of central Barcelona streets were choked with smoke from burning bins. 

Hasél, known for his radical leftist views, had missed a deadline last Friday to surrender to authorities to serve a nine-month jail term handed down in 2018 – a sentence that caused an uproar in Spain and led the government to announce that it would make free speech laws less draconian. 

On Tuesday, police stormed a university building where Hasél had barricaded himself and arrested him, triggering rallies and riots in Barcelona and other Catalan cities. Police arrested 18 people, while 55 were injured, including 25 officers, officials said on Tuesday. 

On Wednesday night, protest organisers used social media to call for further rallies across Spain, including in Madrid, to demand Hasél’s release. 

During a news briefing, regional security chief Miquel Samper appealed to protesters to congregate peacefully. 

A source at Catalonia’s interior department said police had “strengthened sensitive areas” to avoid more riots, but declined to give further details. A police source said there was no plan to bolster security nationwide for the protests.



Vocabulary:

 

clash -

 

 

baton -


pavement - 

 

set fire to -

 

 

 


rally - 


Have a read of  (and comment on) some previous posts related to protests and riots:

- General Strike: Success or Failure?

- Climate Protestors Target Air-Travellers

- Anti-Austerity Anger

- Controversy Surrounds Statues

- Cayetanos are Revolting

- Protests as Anti-Protest Law Comes into Effect

- Demonstration on Streets of Madrid

- Bloody Scenes in Plaça de Catalunya

-  "The Angry Ones"

- Camped in Sol

- May Day Unrest

- Rioting (again) in Madrid


Comments

Anonymous said…
I don´t know what to think about that news, its very controversial subject. In one hand It´s not fair go to prison just for words, but in other hand I don’t agree any person can say bad word to other for nothing, indeed really bad as he wish the dead of others, something that a normal person don’t have to manage to it, and who decide what is the limit. One think, I know, I won´t go to a riot for this person, I don’t agree to anybody wish the dead to other person and incite the violence.
I like the vocabulary.
He push him to the swimming pool, because his brother was triggered him.
He trigger the fight/clash
They were clashing when the police entered
The forest was burned, because travellers set fire to brachs
The kids are very inconcious they can set fire to anything.
He pretend to charge me 100€ for the visit
The charge for consultation the doctor is 50€
The are always in a rally for have the best marks.
All the country were in a standstill when the curfew set in.

Monday, 15 March, 2021
Gus said…
From my point of view, currently freedom of expression in Spain can be exercised without problems. It is a right that is being respected. On the other hand, as in everything, there are limits in terms of the ideas that can be expressed and in terms of how to defend this freedom. I dislike seen on television some excesses that have been commited in the streets lately. I have seen things that have nothing to do with defending freedom.
Thursday, 18 March, 2021
Graham said…
Evening Barbara,

I am by no means an expert on rap but I understand that many lyrics push the boundaries of what most people would consider acceptable. Should we throw all these rappers in jail too?


I don´t know what to think about this news; it's a very controversial subject. On one hand, it´s not fair if someone goes to prison just for words, but on the other hand, I don’t think it is right for anyone to speak badly about someone else for nothing; indeed really bad such as he wishing others dead, something that a normal person shouldn't have to deal with, but who decides what the limit is. One thing for sure, I wouldn't riot for this person, I don’t agree with people who wish others dead and incite violence.

(I'm not sure I understood what you were trying to express

I like the vocabulary.

He push him into the swimming pool, because his brother triggered him. (sounds strange)
He triggered the fight/clash.
They were clashing when the police entered.
The forest burned because travellers set fire to branches.
The kids are completely unaware that they can set fire to anything.
He tried to charge me 100€ for the visit.
The charge for a consultation with the doctor is 50€.
The are always in a rally to get the best marks. (strange)
The whole country was at a standstill when the curfew set in.
Friday, 19 March, 2021
Graham said…
Hello Gus,

I am sure that those who are rioting are not concerned about freedom of speech. They are just using this controversy as an excuse to fight the authorities.


From my point of view, freedom of expression in Spain can currently be exercised without problems. It is a right that is being respected. On the other hand, as with everything, there are limits in terms of the ideas that can be expressed and in terms of how to defend this freedom. I dislike having seen on television some excesses that have been committed in the streets over the last few weeks. I have seen things that have nothing to do with defending freedom.
Sunday, 21 March, 2021
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