On Monday, the Human Rights Watch urged the Spanish government to reject a recent draft bill regarding the public security of Spain. According to HRW, the bill will diminish public liberties such as the freedom of expression and right to peaceful assembly while penalizing “vulnerable” groups and breaking international treatment of asylum.
The HRW called upon the Spanish senate to deny the bill in order to save these liberties. The bill would limit freedom of expression and right to peaceful assembly by imposing harsh fines on those who do not follow regulation. Examples include fines of 600 euros for not notifying authorities in advance of meetings or demonstrations in public places. “Fines up to 600,000 euros for holding spontaneous meetings or demonstrations, i.e. without notification, in or ‘in the proximity of’ infrastructures or facilities that provide basic services, including transportation hubs, nuclear plants and refineries, utilities installations, and telecommunications infrastructure, when the gatherings created a risk to people,” said the HRW.
These fines and restrictions will inhibit many from conducting peaceful protests, says HRW.
“Although it’s better than the government’s original draft, the legislation still undermines fundamental rights in myriad ways,” said senior Western Europe researcher for HRW Judith Sunderland. “The Senate should take this last chance to ensure that the Spanish government doesn’t erode basic rights and freedoms in Spain.” The Spanish senate is scheduled to vote on the bill on Tuesday March 10.
Further, the bill reinforces the practice of sending any immigrants who try to enter Spain by going over fences on the borders. Spanish authorities have traditionally sent any individuals back if they did not enter through official checkpoints. Even asylum seekers who are not able to go through official checkpoints are turned back. Numerous human rights groups and international organizations state that Spain should stop this practice. In addition, the bill imposes harsher fines on sex workers, drug users, and homeless individuals in order to deter the increase of such groups. However, HRW argues that these practices are overtly harsh and make survival difficult for these individuals.
