2nd Spanish rapper jailed, fined for praising terror groups

By iNFOTEL
March 02 2018 08:09 AM

CP229605669 — FILE - In this Feb. 1, 2018. file photo, Rap singer Pablo Rivadulla arrives at the National court in Madrid, Spain. A Spanish court on Friday March 2, 2018 has sent a second rapper in two weeks to prison for praising terror groups, encouraging violence and insulting the Spanish Crown and state institutions, including the police. The National Court sentenced Pablo Rivadulla, known as the rapper Pablo Hasel, to two years in prison and a fine of 24,300 euros (30,000 dollars). (AP Photo/Paul White, File)

MADRID – A Spanish court has sent a second rapper in two weeks to prison for praising terror groups, encouraging violence and insulting the Spanish Crown and state institutions, including the police.

The National Court sentenced Pablo Rivadulla, known as the rapper Pablo Hasel, to two years in prison and fined him 24,300 euros ($30,000).

It found in a ruling published Friday that Hasel committed the crimes on Twitter between 2014 and 2016. It also noted he was a repeat offender, having been convicted of the same crimes for songs posted on YouTube in 2015.

Last month, the Supreme Court upheld the conviction of a rapper who argued that his lyrics praising terror groups were protected by freedom of expression laws.

The cases have fueled debate about freedom of speech in Spain.

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