Bill would outlaw associations that promote violence or terrorism

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill would add a new point 5 to Article 515 of the Criminal Code. It would outlaw associations that, through violence, threats or direct public incitement to violence, promote political systems or ideologies seeking to destroy the democratic constitutional order or the rule of law, totalitarian or authoritarian regimes, or values incompatible with freedom, equality, justice, political pluralism and human dignity.
2. It would also add a point 6 to the same article. It would outlaw associations that publicly glorify or justify crimes by terrorist organizations or their perpetrators, or that discredit, disparage or humiliate victims of terrorist crimes or their relatives.
3. The preamble justifies the reform as a response to the demand to outlaw associations that promote values incompatible with democracy through violent means. It expressly mentions those linked to terrorist groups or acting as their political heirs, such as the terrorist group ETA, and cites a European Parliament resolution of September 19, 2019 on historical memory.
4. If passed, the law would take effect the day after its publication in the Official State Gazette (Boletín Oficial del Estado).

Who it affects

• Associations that use violence or incite it: Could be declared illegal if they promote violence, totalitarian ideologies or values contrary to democracy.
• Associations that glorify or justify crimes by terrorist organizations: Could be declared illegal if they publicly glorify or justify terrorist crimes or humiliate victims.
• Victims of terrorism and their relatives: Could rely on this reform to seek the outlawing of such associations.

Words worth knowing

Ley orgánica

A type of Spanish law reserved for major matters, such as fundamental rights, requiring enhanced majorities to pass.

Proposición de ley

A bill introduced by one chamber of Parliament (here the Senate). It is not a law until fully approved.

Jurisprudencia constitucional

Rulings by the Constitutional Court interpreting the Constitution.

Principio de legalidad penal

Only conduct clearly defined as a crime by a prior law can be punished.

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