Police State: Spain Sets Stiff Fines for "Unauthorized Protests"
Spain's lower house of parliament approved legislation Thursday that allows for the summary expulsion of migrants entering the country's North African enclaves illegally and hefty fines for protests outside parliament buildings or strategic installations. ● The Public Security Law was approved in a 181-141 vote after being heavily criticized by opposition parties and rights groups as an attempt by the conservative government to muzzle protests over its handling of the economic crisis. The measures, which update a 1992 law, also include fines of up to 30,000 euros ($37,000) for disseminating photographs of police officers that endanger them or police operations. Spanish cities have been the scene of weekly protests, which are mostly peaceful, since the onset of the crisis in 2008. The bill was passed easily because the conservative Popular Party has an absolute majority. Opposition parties have pledged to scrap it if elected to office.
PressTV: Spain parliament passes bill restricting protests
DWN: Fotografieren von Polizisten ist ab sofort per Strafe verboten
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El País: El PP aprueba su ‘ley mordaza’ en solitario y entre protestas