The AN opens preliminary proceedings for the poster of the Bilbao festival in which Abascal appears with a shot to the neck

The Prosecutor's Office does not believe it is necessary to suspend the festival as Vox demanded in its complaint but requests a report from the Ertzaintza

MADRID, 24 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The judge of the National Court Joaquín Gadea has agreed to open preliminary proceedings as a result of the complaint presented by the political party Vox for the dissemination on the occasion of the Big Week in Bilbao of a poster for a music festival in which the face of its leader, Santiago Abascal, with "a red puddle" that "stages and symbolizes" the trace of blood that would result from shooting him in the neck. The magistrate, in his order, points out that the facts "present characteristics that suggest the possible existence of a criminal offence."

The political formation indicated in its complaint that this poster could be constitutive of the crimes of threats, hate and exaltation and apology of terrorism, and for this reason, it was interested in the suspension of the act announcing this cartel --scheduled for 11:00 p.m. this same Thursday--.

The magistrate, in the order to which Europa Press has had access, points out that since "the nature and circumstances of such events and the people who have intervened in them are not determined" prior proceedings must be ordered to determine how to proceed, and agrees Notify the Public Prosecutor of the complaint so that it issues a report on both the jurisdiction of the National Court and the measures to be adopted.

Tax sources consulted by Europa Press indicate that, upon receiving this order from the magistrate, they have forwarded their report in which they reject the precautionary measure that Vox requested to suspend the event.

However, the Public Prosecutor's Office is interested in the Ertzaintza drawing up a report in case during the celebration of these concerts an event could occur that could be classified as a crime of glorification of terrorism.

Specifically, the poster announces a series of concerts that will take place this Thursday as part of a festival called 'Callejero' organized by popular groups within the framework of Bilbao's Semana Grande, but outside the official program of the City Council. On the poster, Abascal can be seen in the foreground smiling in a black and white image and behind him, at the level of his neck, a red splatter that symbolizes blood.

As reported this Thursday by Vox in a press release, in the complaint written by the national legal deputy secretary, Marta Castro, it was indicated that "the dissemination of the poster and even the celebration of the act encourages violence, justifies its use for reasons of differences and ideological reasons, and therefore, it falls within an illegal act". She added that to this we must add that Abascal "has been the target of ETA terrorism throughout his life" for which "it is also a clear example of apology for terrorism."

Vox explained that the organizers of the event cannot rely on freedom of expression to maintain this poster "because it has exceeded all limits" and they cannot "cover up" under the premise of "something neutral or festive expression (...) because The permitted limits of expression have been exceeded, because all citizens, and even more so the citizens of Bilbao and Vizcaya, identify the marking of people with their photograph and a shot, or a target, as they have been doing for many years, with the real and certain threat of his next murder".

"The image of Santiago Abascal shot incites, promotes and fosters hatred against him, and together with him, to violence against the leaders, officials, supporters and voters of Vox", the party abounded, stressing that this incitement is caused by ideological and political motives and "attempts against dignity and the principle of equality and non-discrimination".

"Furthermore, incitement of hate, up to the extent of urging his murder, such as shooting a person in the head, is a crime of risk and danger, exalting a violent action of such seriousness that it provokes, in addition to feelings of incitement to violence, discrimination and hatred, the effective implementation of the described action", they added.

Likewise, they considered that the fact that the poster shows a method of threat and murder used by ETA is evidence that it has the "welcome, acceptance and praise" of the broadcasters, and pointed out that "it is unjustifiable".

For this reason, the formation of Abascal also indicated that, in their complaint, they requested the judicial bodies not only to suspend the event, but also to require the Bilbao City Council to identify the organizers so that they can be "tried for the crimes of those who are accused".