Spain Axes Fine over Image of Illegally-Parked Police Car
Spanish officials have scrapped an 800-euro fine against a woman for posting a picture on Facebook of an illegally-parked police car after admitting the image did not contravene a controversial security law.
The offending picture, which was posted online last month, showed a police car parked in a disabled parking space in a town in the southeastern province of Alicante, accompanied by critical remarks using strong language.
The police said the officers were rushing to stop vandals in a nearby park, and quickly filed a complaint against the woman, citing controversial new legislation known as the citizens' security law.
Popularly known as the "gag law" the legislation, which came into force on July 1, bars unauthorised use of police images for security reasons, with fines ranging from 600 euros to 30,000 euros ($660-$34,000).
But the central government's representative in Alicante shelved the complaint, scrapping the 800-euro ($912-dollar) fine, with a spokesman telling Agence France Presse it had "nothing to do with the Citizens Security Law, it was just a picture of a vehicle that was published".
The law has been criticised by Amnesty International and other rights groups as well as by associations representing lawyers and journalists, with some saying it harkens back to the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco.
Drawn up by Spain's ruling conservative Popular Party government, the law also sets hefty fines for protests outside parliament and other strategic properties, including nuclear power plants.
Critics have accused the government of trying to curtail the right to free assembly and muzzle protests at a time of high unemployment.
Source: Agence France Presse
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/188463 |