Bill would repeal crimes that limit freedom of expression

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill would remove from the Criminal Code the crimes against religious feelings (Article 525), against the Crown (Articles 490.3 and 491), offenses against Spain and its symbols (Article 543), insults to institutions and security forces (Article 504), and glorification of terrorism (Article 578).
2. The explanatory statement argues that these crimes have been used to punish criticism, satire or protest, and that freedom of expression should prevail unless there is direct incitement to violence, hatred or discrimination.
3. The bill would reform the fourth aggravating circumstance of Article 22 so that attacking a person for being a victim of terrorism counts as an aggravating factor, keeping victims protected even though Article 578 would be repealed.
4. It would create a new Article 536 bis, punishing with disqualification from public office and a fine any authority or public official who identifies people outside the legal grounds in order to know or control their participation in political, union, religious or expression activities.
5. It would add a second paragraph to Article 538 to punish any authority or public official who, outside the cases allowed by law, prevents one or more people from exercising freedom of expression.
6. The law would take effect the day after its publication in the Official State Gazette, and the Government would be empowered to issue the rules needed to apply it.

Words worth knowing

Derogar (repeal)

To remove a rule or article from the law so it no longer applies.

Tipo penal (criminal offense definition)

The legal description of conduct that the law punishes as a crime.

Agravante (aggravating circumstance)

A factor that makes a crime punishable more severely.

Inhabilitación especial (special disqualification)

A penalty that bars a person from holding a public job or office for a period of time.

Proposición de ley (bill)

A legislative proposal introduced by members of Congress that still needs to be debated and passed.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries