Spain: Neo-Nazi leader sentenced for hate speech against Moroccan immigrants

Isabel Medina Peralta, leader of the neo-Nazi group NS Bastión Frontal, has been sentenced to one year in prison for a hate crime after inciting violence against Moroccan and Muslim immigrants. 

The incident occurred during a rally in front of the Moroccan Embassy in Madrid in 2021, where Peralta made inflammatory statements targeting the Moroccan community.

The Provincial Court of Madrid found Peralta guilty of promoting hatred and discrimination. Her remarks, which included slogans like “death to the invader” and “it’s not immigration, it’s an invasion,” were seen as an attack on the dignity of Moroccan immigrants and an encouragement of violent behavior. 

In addition to her prison sentence, she was also fined 1080 euros.

The rally, which was unauthorized and ended in riots and five arrests, was filmed and shared online. 

Videos from the event received thousands of views, further spreading her harmful message. Although the Prosecutor’s Office initially sought a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence, the court opted for a shorter term.

The judges said that while freedom of expression is protected, it does not extend to speech that incites violence or targets vulnerable communities. 

The judges also pointed out that Peralta’s leadership role in organizing the event played a key role in the severity of the sentence. 

The court rejected her arguments and made it clear that her words went beyond political criticism, describing them as “blatantly violent.”

The court said that, whether or not Peralta had an official leadership role in the group, she still played a key part in organizing the event. 

The judges also pointed out the “context” of the rally, which was led by a group known for openly clashing with Moroccan immigrants since 2020. They described the group’s actions as clearly racist, backed up by the hateful slogans shouted during the rally and the online posts that followed.

This ruling is still open to appeal.