THE TERRORIST NEXT DOOR

Anna Baeza

Director(s): Anna Baeza

On the night of August 11, 2015, Octavio Cadelo Tojeiro was arrested in his serigraphy shop in Narón (A Coruña) and transferred to Madrid to testify before the National Court. He was accused of apology of jihadist terrorism and contempt and humiliation to the victims, although he would not know the reasons until hours later. The evidence against him were two T-shirts that were posted on his website. Both remain for sale today.

In today's Spain, terrorism is routinely equated with activism or social denunciation. Those who through humor, books, songs, art or even Twitter criticise the system or denounce injustices are targeted. Even making jokes can get you in trouble. The Penal Code, in particular article 578 that refers to the glorification of terrorism, was never so flexible. And all this is carried out through a special procedure that includes isolation, prolonged detentions and the real and effective possibility of applying preventive prison sentences to the accused.

The figures, which increase every year, are alarming. Since 2012, a year after ETA announced permanent cease-fire, more than 150 people have been brought to trial for terrorism offenses with sentences ranging from 3 to 12 years. During 2008, for example, when the band was still active, only one. This situation, which has been denounced by different organizations including Amnesty International, puts at risk the freedom of expression of artists, creators and citizens. What is relevant about this repressive drift is that it is happening only in one direction, since only voices critical with the establishment are silenced and punished, therefore neutralising any type of dissidence.