A protestor takes part in a march against the Public Security Law “gag law” in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, June 30, 2015. Thousands of protesters railed Tuesday against a new Spanish public security law nicknamed the “gag law” before it went into effect at midnight, slamming it as legalized muzzling of free expression and the media. It was pushed through by the conservative Popular Party in the wake of largely peaceful protests that hit Spain after the financial crisis began in 2008. The demonstrations hit an apex in 2012 as the nation teetered on the verge of economic meltdown only to be saved by a bailout of its troubled banks.
Spain brought in its new public security law on Wednesday limiting freedom of speech and curbing the right to peacefully protest with the introduction of fines ranging between €100 ($111) and €600,000.
The Local takes a look at some of the more repressive points of the controversial law dubbed the Ley Mordaza or “gag law”.
1) Fines for protesting
An Femen activist being apprehended at Barcelona’s recent technology trade fair. Photo: AFP
Under the new law, anyone who organizes or takes part in an “unauthorized protest” could be fined between €30,000 and €600,000 if the protest takes part near institutions such as the Spanish parliament.
2) Distrupting public events
Disrupting events such as public speeches, sports events or religious ceremonies could face fines of between €600 and €300,000.
3) Botellón
The Spanish tradition of getting together with mates for outdoor drinking sessions looks to be officially over – drinking in public will be hit with fines of €600 under the new law. And teenagers won’t escape – Parents will be held responsible for the payment of their offsprings’ fines.
4) Social media activism
Using Twitter, Facebook or Instagram to call on people to protest will be fined under the new law, an attempt to put paid to the spontaneous protests that have proved very powerful in building the indignado movement.
5) Photographing police
Photo: AFP
People will be fined for taking unauthorized photographs of the police, a measure introduced with the argument that being publically identified could put officers and their families in danger.
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The ten most repressive points of Spain’s gag law – The Local
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