PODCAST: Rapper Hasel jailed and riots on streets - freedom of speech debate spills over

The story of the Catalan rapper Pablo Hasel jailed for his lyrics and tweets and the protesters defending his right to freedom of expression

Catalan police, the Mossos d'Esquadra, arrest rapper Pablo Hasel at the University of Lleida, February 16, 2021 (by Pau de la Calle)
Catalan police, the Mossos d'Esquadra, arrest rapper Pablo Hasel at the University of Lleida, February 16, 2021 (by Pau de la Calle) / ACN

ACN | Barcelona

February 20, 2021 11:44 AM

September 19, 2022 07:28 PM

 

On February 16, the Catalan rapper Pablo Hasel was arrested at the University of Lleida after being sentenced to two years and nine months in jail for two cases of glorifying terrorism and insulting the Spanish crown in his tweets and lyrics. Press play below to listen or subscribe on Apple PodcastsGoogle Podcasts or Spotify.

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Hasel's arrest has led to widespread protests in cities and towns across Catalonia and Spain, with dozens of arrests and injuries following clashes between demonstrators and police.

Cristina Tomàs White and Natacha Maurin join Lorcan Doherty to discuss Hasel's case, a similar one involving the rapper Valtonyc, and the debate around the boundaries of freedom of expression and Spain's controversial so-called 'gag law'.

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