Freedom for Pablo Hasél

Rappers from Mexico and Colombia show solidarity with Pablo Hasél

Latin American rappers spoke out on social media after Pablo Hasél's arrest and threat to freedom of expression


The imprisonment of rapper  Pablo Hasél has caused international controversy and outrage. Amid the pandemic, Spanish youths have been in the streets for eight days protesting and clashing with police.

Artists from all over the world have been quick to show solidarity with the rapper, who has been imprisoned for glorifying terrorism, insulting the Spanish Crown and state institutions.

In Mexico, a collective of rappers has published a statement signed by 16 artists in support of Hasél.

"We want to show our firm rejection for the imprisonment of rapper Pablo Hasél, sentenced to deprivation of liberty and jail for his lyrics critical of the monarchy and state institutions. No artist can be repressed for the content of his songs," reads the statement.

The collective includes artists such as the vocalist of the band Maldita Vecindad, Roco Pachucote, and Miguel Angel Suarez, nicknamed "Rumec Tecuhtli" and General Secretary of the International Rap Union.

The musicians claim that Hasél's imprisonment poses "a serious threat to other musicians who denounce actions by the authorities" and all those who are considered "political dissidents."

"We are outraged to see fellow musicians and rappers persecuted and imprisoned for their lyrics," they wrote.

The artists, in addition to showing support for Hasél, demanded his freedom and claimed "the full right to ideological freedom, freedom of expression and artistic creation for artists in Spain, Mexico and around the world."

In Colombia, the rapper known as Resistencia Desarmada, leader of the project ‘Noticias Rapeadas,' where he narrates the most relevant political events in the country, has sent a rap in support of the Catalan rapper, demanding justice for Hasél and for the people imprisoned for raising their voice for social justice.


With Hasel, there are now 15 artists prosecuted and imprisoned in Spain, not including Valtonyc, who fled to Switzerland to avoid jail.

What will happen to freedom of speech? 

From: Aldianews

Here is what the mainstream Skynews wrote 6 days ago.

Pablo Hasel: Barcelona sees sixth night of violent protests over jailed rapper

Demonstrators have clashed with police in a sixth consecutive night of violent protests in Barcelona over the jailing of rapper Pablo Hasel.

The musician was arrested by anti-riot police  on Tuesday following a 24-hour stand-off in a university with dozens of supporters to avoid prison over what he calls an issue of free speech.

He was given nine months behind bars for insulting the Spanish monarchy and praising terrorist violence in his music and also on his Twitter account.

As on previous days, Sunday began peacefully, with graffiti artists showing their solidarity with Hasel by painting a mural critical of Spain's King Felipe VI and his father, Juan Carlos.

But as soon as darkness fell, tensions grew as protesters mostly dressed in dark clothes marched through the city centre to the National Police headquarters.

Youths began hurling objects including rocks, bottles, rubbish, firecrackers and even a wheelie bin at officers - some in riot gear.

After half an hour, Catalan police moved in supported by vans to clear the area.