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This year has seen the largest single rise in hate crimes in Spain since records began. Between January and the end of June 2021, a total of 610 hate crimes were recorded in Spain, a 9.3% rise compared to 2019. In July, a further 138 hate crimes were recorded, bringing the total number for the year so far to 748.

 

In the same period last year, hate crimes were down due to lockdown and Covid-19 restrictions, but in a worrying development there has been a sharp upsurge this year. The announcement comes less than a week after a horrendous homophobic attack in Madrid’s Malasaña neighbourhood (pictured), when a young man was attacked by eight assailants who called him names and carved a homophobic slur on his backside with a knife.

 

Expanding on the release of these figures, Spain’s Minister of the Interior stated that ‘attacks against the LGTB community are more violent’ and noted that racism and xenophobia are the most common reasons people commit hate crimes. Assaults based on sexual orientation and gender identity are the third most common, with transgender people being ‘the most victimised in these despicable acts’.

 

Hate crimes in Spain are a growing problem, and have been rising almost every year since records began in 2013.

Compared to last year, hate crimes against people with disabilities have increased by 69.2%, while there have also been increases in discrimination on grounds of illness (+62.5%), discrimination on grounds of sex/gender (+43.5%) and discrimination against the Gypsy community (+57.1%). Hate crimes based on ideology and anti-Semitism were among the categories that thankfully saw a decrease in numbers, down 45.3% and 40% respectively.

 

Other recent high-profile cases of anti-gay assaults in Spain include the murder of Samuel Luiz outside a nightclub in A Coruña on July 3. The young man was beaten to death following severe traumatic brain injury. Three men are currently in pre-trial detention on charges relating to the case, and one woman who was also arrested has been released with precautionary measures.

 

Image: Archive