Spain’s National Court Opposes Pardon to Rapper Pablo Hasél for his “Antisocial Attitude”

The Spanish National Court (AN) has issued a report which is against granting a pardon to rapper Pablo Hasél. He is serving several prison sentences for alleged glorification of terrorism and insulting the Spanish monarchy in various tweets and song lyrics, a criminal offense according to the crimes of opinion. The application of this law has long been questioned by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

The Spanish court considers that “there are no grounds of justice, equity or public utility” for granting the pardon and for this reason “issues an unfavorable report,” though the final decision will be made by the Spanish government. The judges believe that Hasél does not deserve the pardon due to his “antisocial attitude” revealed by the singer’s other convictions, which are both for other crimes of opinion – insults to the Crown and State institutions.

Hasél’s imprisonment caused a week of riots in Catalonia and this prompted the Spanish government to promise to lessen the penalties for crimes of opinion, a promise that has not been fulfilled 8 months later.