Government of Gibraltar files incitement to hatred case against VOX

THE Gibraltar Government has filed a criminal complaint against four leaders of the Spanish political party VOX in accordance with Article 510 of the Spanish Penal Code which deals with offences of incitement to hatred.

In the complaint, the Government brings to the attention of the Spanish prosecutors a long list of statements emanating from a number of leaders of VOX which it claims, reveal a clear strategy of disparaging Gibraltarians and their institutions in a manner which appears designed to create an atmosphere of hatred among Spaniards towards Gibraltarians.

As recently reported in Euro Weekly News, the leader of VOX in neighbouring La Linea de la Concepcion, resigned accusing the national party leadership of fomenting hatred against Gibraltar.

Now, the Government complains that some of the online comments provoked by statements made by VOX and its national leaders have specifically urged violent action against Gibraltar which should be considered as hate crimes.

The Gibraltar Government has publicly stated that it is mindful of a long and dark history in Europe where minorities have been targeted by extremist political ideologues.

The outcomes of some of those campaigns of hatred are an indelible blot on European history and the Government says it will leave no stone unturned to ensure that the promulgators of anti-Gibraltarian hate are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

In addition, the Government has asked the Spanish prosecutors to investigate the online group, “Gibraltar: Español”, a social media group which regularly disseminates allegations against Gibraltar and which has recently been an avid outlet for the anti-Gibraltarian propaganda of VOX.