Spain’s Ominous Gag Law

Opinion | Editorial New York Ties

Spain’s Ominous Gag Law

By THE EDITORIAL BOARD
  •  
  •  April 10, a group called No Somos Delito or We Are Not a Crime, projected a hologram of protesting marchers filing in front of the Parliament building in Madrid. For the time being, virtual protests in the form of holograms are not illegal in Spain. Incredibly, however, almost every other kind of peaceful protest soon will be if a new law goes into effect as scheduled on July 1.
The law on public security — dubbed the “ley mordaza” or “gag law” — would define public protest by actual persons in front of Parliament and other government buildings as a “disturbance of public safety” punishable by a fine of 30,000 euros. People who join in spontaneous protests near utilities, transportation hubs, nuclear power plants or similar facilities would risk a jaw-dropping fine of €600,000. The “unauthorized use” of images of law enforcement authorities or police — presumably aimed at photojournalists or ordinary citizens with cameras taking pictures of cops or soldiers — would also draw a €30,000 fine, making it hard to document abuses.
The law was introduced in 2013 by the government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, whose conservative party enjoys a majority in both houses of Parliament. The lower house approved the law in December, and, despite pleas from rights groups and the United Nations, the Senate approved it last month.
The law’s main purpose, it appears, is to help the ruling party maintain its hold on power by discouraging the anti-austerity protests that have snowballed into widespread support for the populist Podemos party. Podemos looks set to make major gains in elections this year.
The European Commission should act swiftly to condemn the new law. Maina Kiai, the special rapporteur at the United Nations on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, has urged Spanish lawmakers to reject the measure, arguing: “The rights to peaceful protest and to collectively express an opinion are fundamental to the existence of a free and democratic society.” Spain’s new gag law disturbingly harkens back to the dark days of the Franco regime. It has no place in a democratic nation, where Spaniards, as citizens of the European Union, have more than a virtual right to peaceful, collective protest.

Comentarios

Publicar un comentario

Entradas más populares de este blog

ESTOY HECHA DE RETAZOS-POEMA de CARO CAROLINA

Imagen
      Estelas en la mar 7   · Estoy hecha de retazo S     Estoy hecha de retazos, pedacitos coloridos de cada vida que pasa por la mía y que voy cosiendo en el alma.   No siempre son bonitos, ni siempre felices, pero me agregan y me hacen ser quien soy.   En cada encuentro, en cada contacto, voy quedando mayor. En cada retazo una vida, una lección, un cariño, una nostalgia... Que me hacen más persona, más humana, más completa.   Y pienso que es así como la vida se hace: de pedazos de otras gentes que se van convirtiendo en parte de uno también. Y la mejor parte es que nunca estaremos listos, finalizados. Siempre habrá un retazo para añadir al alma.   Por lo tanto, gracias a cada uno de ustedes, que forman parte de mi vida y que me permiten engrandecer mi historia con los retazos dejados en mí.    Que yo también pueda dejar pedacitos de mí por los caminos y que puedan ser parte de sus historias.   Y que así, de retazo en...
Leer más

USA The good job of a floor maid at the Tewksbury Institute

Imagen
  One of the better stories I have read in a long time. Dr. Frank Mayfield was touring Tewksbury Institute when, on his way out, he accidentally collided with an elderly floor maid. To cover the awkward moment Dr. May field started asking questions. "How long have you worked here?" "I've worked here almost since the place opened," the maid replied. "What can you tell me about the history of this place?" he asked. "I don't think I can tell you anything, but I could show you something." With that, she took his hand and led him down to the basement under the oldest section of the building. She pointed to one of what looked like small prison cells, their iron bars rusted with age, and said, "That's the cage where they used to keep Annie Sullivan." "Who's Annie?" the doctor asked. Annie was a young girl who was brought in here because she was incorrigible—nobody could do anything with her. She'd bite and scream ...
Leer más

CHILE: Los HINRICHSEN de TOME-una aproximación a nuestra historia familiar

Imagen
http://www.archivohistoricoconcepcion.cl/biblioteca-digital/autores/rolando-saavedra/ He leido con no pocas emociones este magnífico recuento de la historia de la querida familia de la cual heredé dos hijxs maravillosos, Yanina Andrea Hinrichsen Zabaleta, nacida en Concepción, y Tomás Alejo Hinrichsen Zabaleta, nacido durante nuestro exilio con Ricardo Alberto Hinrichsen Ramírez en Glasgow, Escocia.  Como casi todo ya está dicho por el autor, no me faltaría tal vez más que agregar algunas fotos de las decenas que atesoro.  Mientras decido cual/es, saludo al autor, Don Rolando, y le reitero mi agradecimiento por su esmerado y logrado esfuerzo de investigación para llevar a su conclusión a este valioso nuevo libro suyo que, con su acostumbrada g enerosidad, nos ha compartido. Foto de la fiesta de nuestro matrimonio el 17 de julio de 1969, en la casa de mi marido, de izquierda a derecha, Tomás Benjamín Hinrichsen Ramírez, Cristián, Juan Carlos, Sra. María Victoria Ramírez de Hin...
Leer más