Date Published: 19/02/2021
ARCHIVED - Violent protests spread through Spain after arrest of controversial rapper in Lleida
ARCHIVED ARTICLE
Pablo Hasél has been found guilty of repeatedly glorifying terrorism and insulting the monarchy
It has been noticeable over recent weeks in Spain that there is a growing sense of anger and frustration among certain sectors of the population, particularly teenagers and young adults, at the lack of freedom they are allowed in current circumstances, and the last few days have seen a wave of indignant and violent protests and demonstrations in the streets of towns and cities in various different parts of the country.
The spark which has ignited these manifestations of discontent, though, is not the restrictions on movement and social gatherings, but the detention of a rap artist who performs under the name of Pablo Hasél, who has been found guilty of glorifying terrorism and insulting the monarchy not only in his songs but also via his Twitter account.
Born Pablo Rivadulla Duró, Hasél comes from a well-off family with a history of controversy: his grandfather was a militant member of the armed forces of Franco and fought against the “Maqui” anti-Franco guerrillas in 1944, while his father became a successful businessman but stood trial after his spell as president of the Unió Esportiva Lleida football club, having left the club with debts of 10 million euros.
Hasél, though, courts controversy in other ways, and his lyrics and Tweets constantly refer to the “Nazi-onal” police, assert that leading politicans deserve “a bullet through the head”, insult the royal family and appear to contain incitements to violence. For this reason, in late January he was given a 10-day period in which to begin serving time in jail after being sentenced to 9 months in prison, a six-year ban on his activities and a fine of almost 30,000 euros.
But Hasél immediately made it clear that he did not intend to go quietly and holed up with a group of his supporters in the University of Lleida, making it necessary for the Mossos d’Esquadra (the regional police force of Catalunya) to force their way in and arrest him, which they did earlier this week. This was followed on Thursday by the confirmation of another two-and-a-half-year sentence for threatening a witness at a trial in Lleida, and during the week it seems that the indignation of those who feel that he is a victim of laws against free speech has become as contagious as the most virulent strains of Covid.
Among the phrases which have led to charges being brought against Hasél are those advocating an explosion in the car of Patxi López (former president of the Basque Country government), a bullet in the head for José Bono (former regional president in Castilla-La Mancha and Minister of Defence), the death sentence for the “pathetic princesses” of Spain and the eviction of King Felipe VI from his home, as well as countless accusations of police violence, torture and corruption.
Throughout the week there have been several major confrontations between police and his supporters across Spain in cities as widespread as Valenica in the Valencia region, Barcelona, Madrid, Tarragona, the Basque Country etc.
On Friday even the European Commission was drawn into the condemnations of the violence which has taken place this week saying, "we support peaceful protest and condemn all violence."