For the third day in a row, riots have started in several Spanish cities after the imprisonment of rapper Pablo Hasél. People took to the streets because they want the rapper to be released.
Spanish media report disturbances in Barcelona and Valencia. In Barcelona stones were thrown and a barricade was erected. Small fires broke out in various places. Hundreds of people also took to the streets in several cities in the Basque Country, but the protests there were peaceful.
Arrests and injured
The riots started on Tuesday. Then, according to police, eighteen people were arrested after violent protests, mainly in Barcelona and other parts of Catalonia.
Yesterday the police fired rubber bullets to drive the people away. In Madrid, 55 people were injured, including 35 police officers. The police arrested dozens of people.
Lese majesty
Pablo Hasél was sentenced to nine months in prison in 2018 for lese majesty and glorification of terrorism in his lyrics and on Twitter. For example, he called the resigned King Juan Carlos a mafia boss and compared the court to Nazis.
Hasél had until Friday to report for his prison sentence, but he took refuge in the University of Lleída in an attempt to avoid the sentence. After 24 hours, the police arrested him after all.
The case has sparked intense debate in Spain about freedom of expression in the country.
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