Spain's Free Speech Protests

[Shrillland]

This kind of flew under everyone's radars here at NSG, but after six days, we can't ignore it anymore.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/pablo-has-l-rapper-s-arrest-triggers-widespread-protests-debate-n1258327

Here's the rundown.

Back in 2018, Catalan rapper Pablo Hasél was arrested and convicted on charges of glorifying terrorism and insulting the monarchy in his songs where he called King Juan Carlos a mafia boss and seemed to glorify ETA, the Basque separatist terrorist group. He was also convicted for another song where he compared current Spanish judges to Nazis and Falangists. This was all done under Spain's controversial Public Security Law of 2015, which specifically outlaws these types of statements and insults to religion as well. The law has been a divisive issue in Spain as the monarchy's prestige has all but collapsed and Catalonia has gotten ever closer to reasserting their suspended UDI. He was given until last week to report to prison, instead he barricaded himself in the University of Llieda in Llieda, Catalonia, before being arrested for not reporting in on time.

For the last six days, there have been protests and even riots in major cities like Barcelona, Madrid, and Valencia. The PSOE government under President Pedro Sanchez(remember, his title is Government President rather than PM), has vowed to stop prosecuting people under the law if it would mean imprionment, and he's also condemned the violence at the protests.

So, NSG, what's your take on all this? For me personally, I could see glorifying ETA as a problem, certainly, but Spain's monarchy and judiciary are not above criticism especially now that the monarchy has become a liability.

[Baltenstein]

Back in 2018, Catalan rapper Pablo Hasél was arrested and convicted on charges of glorifying terrorism and insulting the monarchy in his songs where he called King Juan Carlos a mafia boss

This seems less "criticizing" and more "stating the obvious" tbh.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Agreed on the ETA concerns. Everything else, monarchy, politicians and religion aren’t above criticism.

[Arisyan]

I was waiting for someone to start a thread on this. I noticed it when I had typed in Spain in the search bar, and this was on the headlines. I was gonna start a thread, but I didn't have enough information.

But yeah, I totally agree with the protestors and really hope the Spanish Government listens to them.

[Kowani]

llibertat Pablo hasel, coño

[Dresderstan]

Speaking of Catalonia, seeing as it was mentioned, did we forget the regional election last week resulted in PSOE "winning" i.e. having the biggest increase and ending up with 33, the same as the ERC?

[The Marlborough]

Considering he's a Catalan, I have no sympathy and honestly wouldn't care if he remains in prison.

[Virgolia]

Agreed on the ETA concerns. Everything else, monarchy, politicians and religion aren’t above criticism.

As far as I understand, he wasn't just criticzing but more explicitly advocating death

[CoraSpia]

I like free speech.

I don't like people being arrested for things they say.
Pretty simple to work out what I think on this issue.

[Glorious Hong Kong]

"Tomorrow it could be you," he tweeted before he was imprisoned and after retweeting the lyrics that he was convicted for.

"We cannot allow them to dictate to us what to say, what to feel and what to do," he added.

Damn right you won't Pablo. Free speech is absolute. You either have it or you don't. You have my sympathies and my firm support.

I never thought the Spanish government would ever attempt to follow in my country's footsteps. Then again, Franco was only deposed in 1976 and Spain's experiment with real democracy has been far shorter. Maybe that would explain it.

This kind of thing happens in my country all the time except hardly anyone protests and nobody really cares. No massive demonstrations. No riots. Nothing. Here, people have been jailed for years on end for insulting Islam, insulting the monarchy, scandalizing the judiciary, and other such acts considered "seditious". Even swear words tend to be off-limits especially if directed at or used to describe certain people, especially ministers and other VVIPs.

People might say a few words, there might be a tiny, half-assed "protest" of about 100-200 people (even in response to something as shameful and outrageous as an elected government being toppled and replaced by an unelected government in a coup), the organizers of which would face charges of illegal assembly, and everyone would quickly move on with their lives while our leaders continue to get away with mismanaging our country and trampling on our rights with total impunity.

This is what one would call an illiberal democracy if one can even call it that because we're in the middle of a seven-month-long state of emergency that our corrupt Prime Minister called for that His Majesty the King approved and no one will dare say a word because challenging the state of emergency or the very existence of the current, unelected government is tantamount to insulting the monarchy. Parliament has been dissolved and our leaders now rule by decree. That's how much power we have allowed our leaders to have over us it's terrifying.

I have some choice words I really want to say about His Majesty, but I won't dare speak out even here despite my anonymity because that's how worried I am that the police might come knocking. I will never be half the man that Pablo Hasel is. I have far too much to lose. But make no mistake. I am seething inside as I write this.

Nothing short of a massive boiling over of public anger and frustration the likes of which Spain is currently experiencing will prevent us from reverting back into the kind of full-blown authoritarianism and political repression that we only just crawled out of three years ago.

Unlike us, Spaniards aren't prepared to be pushed around by their government because they cherish their democratic rights and liberties far more than we do. Like Thais but unlike Malaysians, Spaniards will take to the streets in sheer numbers because they refuse to take no for an answer. They will openly and loudly insult the monarchy, the state religion, and the judiciary in open defiance of the Public Security Law. They will gather in open defiance of coronavirus lockdown restrictions to make their voices heard, and they won't hesitate to employ a steady stream of four-letter words to get their message across. They will no doubt share countless memes and troll their detractors on social media, and they will dare the police to arrest them there and then.

We should learn from them instead of continuing to bow our heads in submission or due to some misguided sense of "respect" for one's elders and "superiors". If Malaysians were even remotely like these protesters, our leaders wouldn't be able to get away with even one-tenth of the kinds of high crimes and misdemeanors they've been allowed to get away with so far even in the middle of a deadly pandemic. They would be the ones cowering in fear for their careers, their reputations, and even their freedoms, not us. The government would fear us, not the other way around.

The monarchy, judiciary, and the state or majority religion should never be above ridicule be it in Spain or Malaysia. Pablo Hasel should be immediately released and unconditionally pardoned and this repressive Public Security Law should be abolished ASAP. Cancel culture, in this case, right-wing conservative cancel culture, has absolutely no place in any democracy whatsoever. Spanish people must not allow their country to devolve into another Malaysia. Young people must fight to defend what their parents' and grandparents' generation fought so hard to earn, especially freedom of speech and expression above all else.

Respect is a two-way street. Respect must be earned, not demanded. I have far more respect for Pablo and his fellow Spaniards than I do my fellow Malaysians for growing a pair of fucking balls and daring to revolt so openly and brazenly.

Viva Spain. Free Pablo Hasel. Revolution of our Times.

[Rusozak]

I know there's a "Pact of Forgetting" about the Francoist era to offer amnesty and let bygones be bygones, but perhaps that policy should be reexamined. Choosing to ignore a past of authoritarianism and suppression of freedom clearly hasn't helped teach the nation to not let it happen again.

[Strazhnist Tsarus]

Free speech, nothing less.
I don't even care what group he was glorifying, this is a sin.

[Shrillland]

I was waiting for someone to start a thread on this. I noticed it when I had typed in Spain in the search bar, and this was on the headlines. I was gonna start a thread, but I didn't have enough information.

But yeah, I totally agree with the protestors and really hope the Spanish Government listens to them.

I was surprised it took this long myself, but it's been buried in a lot of places in the US.

[Shrillland]

Speaking of Catalonia, seeing as it was mentioned, did we forget the regional election last week resulted in PSOE "winning" i.e. having the biggest increase and ending up with 33, the same as the ERC?

We didn't forget that, it's just that it didn't get too much mention. The separatists still have the majority, though.

[Bienenhalde]

I see nothing wrong with Spain's prosecution of Pablo Hasel. Inflammatory and outrageous statements like that do not contribute to healthy and civil public discourse and do not deserve to be defended.

[Adamede]

I see nothing wrong with Spain's prosecution of Pablo Hasel. Inflammatory and outrageous statements like that do not contribute to healthy and civil public discourse and do not deserve to be defended.

It’s one thing to prosecute someone for defending actions if violence and terrorism, another to prosecute them for saying mean things about the government.

[Repubblica Fascista Sociale Italiana]

Terrorist advocating sedition and separatism rightfully arrested

Anyone notice a trend in western countries where supporters of civil war losers cry about "free speech" a lot?

[Kubra]

Terrorist advocating sedition and separatism rightfully arrested

Anyone notice a trend in western countries where supporters of civil war losers cry about "free speech" a lot?

Those who are or were most threatened by a loss of free speech tend to be adherents of it, news at 11.

[PRO CAPITALISM]

Tbh he is right

[Trollzyn the Infinite]

If they'd simply arrested him for supporting a terrorist organization that would've been one thing.

But adding charges for insulting the king is some real Medieval shit.

[6Pack]

If they'd simply arrested him for supporting a terrorist organization that would've been one thing.

But adding charges for insulting the king is some real Medieval shit.

And Juan Carlos isn't even king anymore - he abdicated after his financial dealings became too much of a liability for the continuation of the monarchy.

[Trollzyn the Infinite]

If they'd simply arrested him for supporting a terrorist organization that would've been one thing.

But adding charges for insulting the king is some real Medieval shit.

And Juan Carlos isn't even king anymore - he abdicated after his financial dealings became too much of a liability for the continuation of the monarchy.

Christ that just makes it worse.

[Major-Tom]

Considering he's a Catalan, I have no sympathy and honestly wouldn't care if he remains in prison.

Put that mask back on, jesus.

[Adamede]

Considering he's a Catalan, I have no sympathy and honestly wouldn't care if he remains in prison.

You’re just a wellspring of bad takes aren’t you?

[Adamede]

If they'd simply arrested him for supporting a terrorist organization that would've been one thing.

But adding charges for insulting the king is some real Medieval shit.

Ah but the king be chosen by God, yes sir! Who are we lowly peasants be to questioning the wisdom of the Heavenly Father in his choice of earthly representative?