Security Law/
Spain
Spain’s new security law sparks protests across
country
Human rights groups
say law is parliament’s attempt to ‘gag’ public and muzzle protests over its
handling of country’s financial crisis
theguardian.com, Saturday 20
December 2014 20.24 GMT
The largest
demonstrations occurred in cities such as Barcelona, Bilbao and Madrid.
Photograph: Sergio Perez/Reuters
Thousands of people
have been protesting in Spanish cities against a new law that sets hefty fines
for offences such as burning the national flag and demonstrating outside
parliament buildings or strategic installations.
The public security
law, which was approved last week by parliament, has been heavily criticised by
opposition parties and human rights groups as an attempt by the conservative
government to muzzle protests over its handling of Spain’s financial crisis.
Saturday’s largest
demonstrations occurred in cities such as Barcelona, Bilbao and Madrid, while
smaller ones took place in Almeria, Granada and Valencia. Some protesters wore
tape covering their mouths and carried placards calling the measures a “gagging
law”.
The new law allows
fines of up to €30,000 for disseminating photographs of police officers that
are deemed to endanger them or their operations.
Individuals
participating in demonstrations outside parliament buildings or key
installations could be fined up to €600,000, if they are considered to breach
the peace. Those insulting police officers could be fined up €600. Burning a
national flag could cost the perpetrator a maximum fine of €30,000.
The protests which saw
demonstrators mingling with large crowds of Christmas shoppers in some cities
ended peacefully. Police in Madrid forced media photographers to produce
identity papers.
The demonstrators
included groups opposed to forced evictions because the law can levy fines of
€30,000 for attempting to prevent home repossessions.
Others protested an
element of the new law that entitles police in Spain’s North African enclaves
of Ceuta and Melilla to summarily expel migrants caught trying to enter Europe
by storming border fences.
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