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Spanish judge frees puppeteers jailed for glorifying terrorism Spanish judge frees puppeteers jailed for glorifying terrorism
(7 months later)
A judge has freed two puppeteers who were jailed for glorifying terrorism after they staged a violent puppet show that referred to Basque militant group ETA.A judge has freed two puppeteers who were jailed for glorifying terrorism after they staged a violent puppet show that referred to Basque militant group ETA.
Raul Garcia, 34, and Alfonso Lazaro, 29, have been in custody since Saturday for staging the show The Witch and Don Cristobal as part of Madrid’s carnival celebrations. Children and adults were shown scenes depicting the hanging of a judge and the rape of a nun later stabbed to death with a crucifix.Raul Garcia, 34, and Alfonso Lazaro, 29, have been in custody since Saturday for staging the show The Witch and Don Cristobal as part of Madrid’s carnival celebrations. Children and adults were shown scenes depicting the hanging of a judge and the rape of a nun later stabbed to death with a crucifix.
Related: Basque separatist group Eta gives up token part of arsenal
The arrests kicked off a war of words across the Spanish political spectrum. Some criticised the leftwing mayor of Madrid, Manuela Carmena, whose office paid for and promoted the show. Others accused Spain’s legal system of overreacting.The arrests kicked off a war of words across the Spanish political spectrum. Some criticised the leftwing mayor of Madrid, Manuela Carmena, whose office paid for and promoted the show. Others accused Spain’s legal system of overreacting.
Politicians, locked in weeks of talks aimed at forming a coalition government after inconclusive elections in December, also joined the debate. “It is ridiculous that in a democratic country someone could be in jail for a piece of theatre,” the leader of Podemos, Pablo Iglesias, told Cadena Ser radio.Politicians, locked in weeks of talks aimed at forming a coalition government after inconclusive elections in December, also joined the debate. “It is ridiculous that in a democratic country someone could be in jail for a piece of theatre,” the leader of Podemos, Pablo Iglesias, told Cadena Ser radio.
The interior minister for the acting centre-right People’s Party government, Jorge Fernández Díaz, supported the arrests, saying the puppeteers’ reference to ETA glorified the militants and humiliated victims.The interior minister for the acting centre-right People’s Party government, Jorge Fernández Díaz, supported the arrests, saying the puppeteers’ reference to ETA glorified the militants and humiliated victims.
.@elespanolcom Marionetas de "La Bruja y Don Cristóbal. A cada cerdo le llega su San Martín" ¿Teatro infantil? pic.twitter.com/GVTvP4EjJH.@elespanolcom Marionetas de "La Bruja y Don Cristóbal. A cada cerdo le llega su San Martín" ¿Teatro infantil? pic.twitter.com/GVTvP4EjJH
ETA has killed more than 800 people over several decades in its campaign to establish a Basque state in northern Spain and southern France. The judge had said the arrests were due to one puppet holding up a sign referring to ETA. The glorification of terrorism is a crime under Spanish law.ETA has killed more than 800 people over several decades in its campaign to establish a Basque state in northern Spain and southern France. The judge had said the arrests were due to one puppet holding up a sign referring to ETA. The glorification of terrorism is a crime under Spanish law.
The state prosecutor recommended to the judge that Garcia and Lazaro, 29, be freed since they do not pose a flight risk, according to documents seen by Reuters. However, he said the pair would still have to make daily appearances before the court and would not be allowed to leave the country.The state prosecutor recommended to the judge that Garcia and Lazaro, 29, be freed since they do not pose a flight risk, according to documents seen by Reuters. However, he said the pair would still have to make daily appearances before the court and would not be allowed to leave the country.