Congress approves tougher Penal Code penalties for hate and discrimination

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The Plenary of the Congress of Deputies (Congreso de los Diputados) approved this organic laworganic law A law on fundamental rights, the electoral system or other matters the Constitution reserves. It needs an absolute majority in the Congreso: 176 votes. bill on May 26, 2022. It was split off from the broader bill on equal treatment and non-discrimination because it amends the Penal Code. It is not a law in force.
2. The bill would amend Article 22 of the Penal Code so that committing a crime for racist, antisemitic, anti-Roma, ideological, religious, sexual orientation or identity, gender, aporophobia, illness or disability reasons would be an aggravating factor. This applies even if those conditions are not actually present in the victim.
3. It would also reform Article 510. Anyone who publicly incites hatred, or produces or spreads material that promotes it, could face one to four years in prison and a fine. Seriously denying or glorifying genocide or crimes against humanity, in a way that fosters a climate of violence, would carry the same penalty.
4. Humiliating or discrediting people because they belong to these groups, or glorifying crimes committed against them, would carry six months to two years in prison and a fine. If those acts foster a climate of violence or hatred, the penalty would rise to one to four years in prison.

Who it affects

• People who commit hate or discrimination crimes: they would face harsher penalties.: harsher penalty
• Those who incite hatred or spread content promoting it: they could face prison and a fine.: prison and fine
• Those who deny or glorify genocide or crimes against humanity against these groups.: prison and fine
• Those who humiliate or discredit people because of their membership in these groups.: prison and fine

Words worth knowing

Ley orgánica (organic law)

A Spanish law reserved for major matters, such as fundamental rights, requiring an absolute majority in Congress to pass.

Agravante (aggravating factor)

A circumstance that makes the punishment for a crime more severe.

Aporofobia (aporophobia)

Rejection or hatred toward poor people or those without resources.

Delito de lesa humanidad (crime against humanity)

Very serious crimes committed on a widespread scale against civilians, such as mass murder or torture.

Desglose (splitting off)

Separating part of a bill so it can be processed as an independent text.

organic law

A law on fundamental rights, the electoral system or other matters the Constitution reserves. It needs an absolute majority in the Congreso: 176 votes.

It summarizes the text passed by the full Congreso. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries