Violence Erupts in Spain Over Rapper’s Arrest

Protests against Spanish rapper Pablo Hasél’s arrest in Barcelona. (Wikimedia Commons)

For the last several nights, incidents of violence have broken out at otherwise peaceful protests in Spain over the arrest of celebrated rapper Pablo Hasél. Police have arrested dozens of people for rioting, including allegedly throwing stones and fireworks, starting fires, and looting. Hasél, whose actual name is Pablo Rivadulla Duró, was convicted in 2018 of slandering the Spanish monarchy and praising terrorist organizations on Twitter. 

The tweets alleged that the past two kings of Spain were corrupt, labeling King Felipe VI a “parasite” and calling for the execution by guillotine of other members of the royal family. Hasél also posted tweets in 2014 praising the actions of the Marxist group GRAPO and the Basque separatist group ETA, both of which are on the European Union’s list of terrorist organizations. He received a two-year sentence for those tweets in 2014, but a law that grants leniency for first-time offenders suspended his term. After Spain’s highest court affirmed his conviction, Hasél failed to report to jail for his nine-month sentence, instead barricading himself inside Lleida University.

Official responses to the protests have been mixed. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the brutality, stating that “the Spanish government will confront any kind of violence to ensure people’s safety.” On the other hand, a spokesperson for Unidas Podemos, the Socialist Workers’ Party’s coalition partner, referred to the protestors as “young anti-fascists who are asking for freedom of expression on the streets.” Members of Unidas Podemos introduced a petition in parliament to grant Hasél immunity.

Protestors say that they are fighting for their own freedom of speech, and they have received support from Spanish celebrities and global organizations including Amnesty International. The overwhelmingly young activists have also expressed broader dissatisfaction with Spain’s political system. They believe that Hasél’s provocative statements and lyrics reflect their own disillusionment with politicians and the monarchy. A group of protestors in Madrid shouted “Where is the change? Where is the progress?” Spain has long struggled with youth unemployment, but now more than 40 percent of young people in the country cannot find work during a recession caused by the pandemic.

Hasél’s arrest and the protests surrounding it further drive a wedge in a country that is already grappling with internal divisions. During one of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in Europe, local governments clashed with national authorities over lockdown measures, sparking protests that led to several arrests. Less than a week ago, Catalan separatists won regional elections despite the government’s refusal to release several of their leaders from prison. Spain’s central government has not been shy about arresting protestors or even politicians, resulting in a national debate regarding the right to expression versus the need for public order.