The criminalization of the feminist movement in Spain has adopted increasingly evident and aggressive forms, reflecting a worrying tendency to silence those voices that rise in defense of women’s liberation and human rights. One of the most significant and disturbing examples of this reality is the case of the seven activists of the 8 Mil Motius collective, who have been sentenced to one year and six months of prison for their participation in the feminist general strike of March 8, 2018 in Sant Cugat, Catalonia. In addition to the sentence, which they have already appealed, they have been imposed with civil liability of more than 26,000 eurosas well as the disqualification of the right to passive suffrage during the same period.
This case, far from being an isolated episode, seems to constitute one more piece in a broad mosaic of repression addressed to stop the advance of feminism and punish social dissidence. What happened in Sant Cugat has been perceived as an attack against the entire movement and their legitimate tools of struggle, such as the right to strike and peaceful protest. For many, this is an obvious attempt at demobilization, which sends a clear message to those who dare to question the patriarchal and capitalist system.
The repression suffered by 8 Mil Motius reveals the instrumentalization of Justice and the Police to intimidate the feminist movement
The repression suffered by 8 Mil Motius reveals how the State and ultra-conservative organizations have instrumentalized the judicial apparatus and the security forces to try to intimidate those who fight to transform a deeply unequal structure. The activists They were not convicted of violent acts or damaging propertybut for participating in a legitimate protest action that was framed in the context of a historic feminist strike of global reach. Specifically, for occupying the train tracks for about two hours at the intersection between Barcelona, Terrassa and Sabadell.
The reform of different eminently repressive regulations such as gag law or the reforms to the Penal Code of 2015 They have expanded the margins of action to sanction citizen mobilization. Conceived, at least in part, to contain growing social unrest, they have found a frequent target in the increasingly consolidated feminist movement. Many of the participants, as the report points out Repression and Gender. Resistance and contributions to the anti-repressive fight –from the platform Defend those who defend you– have constantly been subjected to disproportionate scrutiny, with arbitrary arrests, mass identifications or fines.
“It turns out that now no type of test is needed, but rather The statement from the security forces is enough to file a complaint and end in a trial. Starting from this, it turns out that you don’t always have to have done something to end up on the bench. There are quite a few colleagues whose data is taken before arriving at any march or protest, and who are reported. Once they have them signed up, being the visible face, They are even accused of things they have not done“, laments Elisenda Rotger, CGT Confederal Women’s Secretary, in a statement to Public.
The fact that feminists are persecuted not only seeks to limit their actions, but also to delegitimize their ideas.
A type of repression that is not only political, but also symbolic and cultural. The fact that feminists are object of pursuit not only seeks to limit specific acts, but also delegitimize their ideas of social transformationas mentioned by Report 2010-221. Repression of the feminist movement in the Spanish Statepublished by Calala. Feminist and union organizations throughout the country have expressed their rejection of these sentences and have pointed out the need to keep fighting. An atmosphere of solidarity that, ultimately, has been what has allowed the movement to continue growing despite attempts at criminalization.
From CGT they insist that there have been many complaints, an uncountable number, because to begin with “Not all of the colleagues who have been denounced have had the courage, the patience or the fortitude or the means” to appeal them, “but they have assumed the fines or whatever they receive.” Without having the data on the table, Elisenda Rotger warns, “it gives the impression that the first trials applied the gag law to the wild and, on the other hand, there was a small valley during which complaints were being dismissed.” Now, however, “we are once again facing great belligerence, as has happened with the six from Switzerland or with the companions of 8 Mil Motius.” In his opinion, “It depends on the political situation of the moment.”
A chase that comes from afar
Another blatant case of feminist criminalization was that of the activists of the Insubordinate Pussy in Sevillewho were brought to trial in 2014 for a parody procession in which they carried a figure of a vulva emulating the shape of a virgin. Accused of offending religious sentiments, the three women were taken to court by the Christian Lawyers in a process that was interpreted as an attempt to use the law to limit their freedom of expression.
Elisenda Rotger, CGT Confederal Women’s Secretary: “Feminists are even accused of things they have not done”
Although the case was finally archived, its opening showed the use of criminal regulations to curb creativity and feminist denunciation, especially when the issue of religion is discussed, a terrain traditionally hostile to progressive movements. He wasn’t so lucky Elisa Mandillo, convicted in Malaga as the criminal author of the procession of the Santo Chumino Rebelde.
In the field of feminist demonstrations, the case of women prosecuted for participating in the 8M strikes of 2018 and 2019 in Valencia It is just as striking. In both years, a group of 11 women were taken to trial for organize pickets and disrupt public transportation. The accusations, of which they were acquitted, included the crime of civil disobedience. A well-known intimidation tactic. In the context of administrative repression, a key example is that of the fines imposed on women also in Valencia. for placing posters during the 8M 2020 demonstrations. The City Council sanctioned several activists under the excuse of dirtying public roads, an apparently minor penalty but one that adds up and continues.
For his part, the Feminist Movement of Algorta, in Euskadihas also been a victim of these attempts. In 2021, two members of the group were accused of “hindering” the work of the Ertzaintza when they tried to help a woman who had been the victim of an attack. Despite The feminists assured to follow the established protocol and assisted the young womanthe authorities accused them of serious disobedience.
The groups of sex workers also know a lot about criminalization, which were organized in 2018 under the union OTHERS and the National Court declared its registration illegal. The Supreme Court, however, ended up supporting them. It is also worth highlighting the episodes of the militants of FEMEN, who have been subject to multiple arrests and judicial proceedings for their actions. In 2013, five activists were detained in Madrid after interrupting an anti-abortion march shouting slogans such as “My rules, my body.” The accusations included public disorder and resistance to authority.
The persecutions extend to Gijonwhere three women were arrested in 2018 for being part of an information picket, accused of a minor crime of injuries and violating the right to work. These feminists faced a trial in which they were fined almost 14,000 euros. Similar to what happened in Burgoswhere two activists were arrested on a picket line in front of a supermarket. The Police charged against the protesters and, although the detainees were later released, this episode illustrated the disproportionate use of force by the authorities.
And it doesn’t hurt to remember the case of the Subversives association of Castelló. This group was denounced by Vox and brought to trial under the accusation of inciting hatred for alleged threatening graffiti against the president of the ultra party, Santiago Abascal. In reality, Subversives had performed a performance in which they criticized patriarchal and sexist violence. CGT has criticized the sentences requested, which amount to three years. At the hearing, the private prosecution also demanded a conviction for the crime of unconditional threats, with the aggravating circumstance of discrimination, which would entail a two-year sentence. In addition to 1,000 euros in compensation.
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