Thousands of people in Spain demonstrated over the week, protesting against the new security law.
The law prohibits demonstrations outside parliament buildings or strategic installations and other acts, such as burning the Spanish flag and disseminating photos of police officers.
Individuals participating in demonstrations in outlawed areas could be fined up to €600,000, if they are deemed 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.
Parliament approved the new legislation last week, amidst heavy criticism from opposition parties and human rights groups which point to it being an attempt to silence protests over the way the conservative government is dealing with Spain’s economic woes.
The largest demonstrations on Saturday took place in cities such as Barcelona, Bilbao and Madrid, with smaller ones in Almeria, Granada and Valencia. All were said to have ended peacefully.
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 another facet of the new law that lets police in Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla to summarily expel migrants caught trying to enter Europe by storming border fences.
Comments
As whispered here in Portugal - why was no one punished for the storming by protesting police of the Assemblia Republica in November 2103?
Do we all remember that police leader saying that any attempt to discipline his members 'will be "an error, and very, very serious.
At a time like this.... if a witch hunt is started this will been seen as a declaration of war on public safety professionals, and this will certainly have consequences, and I hope that they do not make this mistake."
Who said Fascism and the State Security control apparatus in Portugal had been overturned 40 years ago?
It seems quite alive and well in both Portugal and Spain to me.
http://algarvedailynews.com/news/625-police-protesters-storm-parliament-steps
The Spanish seem to conveniently forget about them when talking about Gibraltar