The
Spanish Government fines Barça and several Catalan social organizations
more than a million euros for allowing freedom of expression
Spanish Government fines Barça and several Catalan social organizations
more than a million euros for allowing freedom of expression
Last
30th May, during the Spanish King’s Cup Final between Barça and
Athletic de Bilbao in Camp Nou, both teams’ supporters massively
whistled the Spanish anthem and waved flags in favour of Catalan
independence.
30th May, during the Spanish King’s Cup Final between Barça and
Athletic de Bilbao in Camp Nou, both teams’ supporters massively
whistled the Spanish anthem and waved flags in favour of Catalan
independence.
Now
the Spanish Government has decided to punish and fine both clubs and
several pro-Catalan independence small organizations because of inaction
in front of this political revendication and appeals to the due respect
and defense of “national symbols”. The overall fines exceed 1 million
€.
the Spanish Government has decided to punish and fine both clubs and
several pro-Catalan independence small organizations because of inaction
in front of this political revendication and appeals to the due respect
and defense of “national symbols”. The overall fines exceed 1 million
€.
The
Platform Pro Catalan Teams (a platform which seeks the acceptance of
Catalan teams in international competitions), Òmnium Cultural and the
Catalan National Assembly strongly oppose the decision to punish and
fine the whistling of the Spanish anthem. We consider it a decision
against freedom of speech. Both clubs’ supporters were only peacefully
expressing their own revendications and political opinions by means of
whistling.
Platform Pro Catalan Teams (a platform which seeks the acceptance of
Catalan teams in international competitions), Òmnium Cultural and the
Catalan National Assembly strongly oppose the decision to punish and
fine the whistling of the Spanish anthem. We consider it a decision
against freedom of speech. Both clubs’ supporters were only peacefully
expressing their own revendications and political opinions by means of
whistling.
The
attitude of the Spanish Government is an exercise of political
repression and brings us the sour memories of Franco’s regime, which
still survives in the minds and hearts of the political actions of some
Spanish political leaders. Such curtailment is part of the Spanish
government’s strategy to reduce the citizens’ rights, especially those
who legitimately aim at a different political future, and finds no
comparison in other democratic states.
attitude of the Spanish Government is an exercise of political
repression and brings us the sour memories of Franco’s regime, which
still survives in the minds and hearts of the political actions of some
Spanish political leaders. Such curtailment is part of the Spanish
government’s strategy to reduce the citizens’ rights, especially those
who legitimately aim at a different political future, and finds no
comparison in other democratic states.
We
fully support both teams’ fans, their respective clubs and the civil
society organizations that have been threatened, in order to respond
together to this new attack.
fully support both teams’ fans, their respective clubs and the civil
society organizations that have been threatened, in order to respond
together to this new attack.
