ACOM announces criminal complaint against far-left politician for public incitement to violence and hate crimes

The Association for Action and Communication on the Middle East (ACOM) announces the immediate filing of a criminal complaint before the competent judicial authorities against Lucía Muñoz Dalda, a city councillor in the City Council of Palma (Mallorca) and regional coordinator of Podemos Illes Balears, for publicly expressed and widely disseminated statements that may constitute criminal offenses under the Spanish Criminal Code.

Podemos is a far-left political party in Spain, founded in 2014, which has been part of governing coalitions at the national level and is known for its radical anti-Israel positions. Its leadership and affiliated media platforms have repeatedly been linked, in public reporting and parliamentary debates, to ideological and political alignment with authoritarian regimes hostile to Israel, including Iran. Several Podemos figures have participated in initiatives openly aligned with Hamas narratives, including so-called “Gaza flotillas.” Lucía Muñoz Dalda herself took part in the most recent flotilla attempting to breach Israel’s maritime blockade of Gaza.

Facts Underlying the Complaint

The complaint concerns statements made by Ms. Muñoz Dalda during the television program “Invierno Rojo”, broadcast on Canal Red, in which she publicly declared, according to video recordings and transcripts widely circulated on social media:

“My best wish for 2026 is the disappearance of the State of Israel and a free Palestine from the river to the sea.”

These statements were made on Canal Red, a media platform founded and directed by Pablo Iglesias Turrión, former Deputy Prime Minister of Spain and former leader of Podemos. Canal Red has been broadcasting online and via digital terrestrial television (DTT) since March 2023.

Legal Assessment

The explicit call for the “disappearance” of a sovereign state constitutes a direct reference to the elimination of the political and institutional existence of a people or nation. Such language goes beyond legitimate political criticism and enters the realm of incitement to hatred and violence, in violation of core principles of the Spanish legal system.

Legal Basis of the Complaint

Article 510 of the Spanish Criminal Code (Hate Crimes)
The conduct in question may fall under Article 510 of the Criminal Code, which penalizes anyone who publicly, through any means of mass dissemination, promotes, incites, or fosters hatred, hostility, discrimination, or violence against a group defined by nationality, nationhood, or national origin, among other protected characteristics. Calling for the “disappearance” of a state inherently undermines the dignity and safety of its people and constitutes implicit incitement to violence against the affected collective.

Aggravating Factors: Discrimination and Dissemination
The repetition of similar expressions on social media and their widespread public dissemination increase the seriousness of the conduct and its capacity to generate a climate of hostility or violence. According to established jurisprudence, such circumstances exclude the protection of freedom of expression when speech degenerates into advocacy of hatred or violence.

ACOM stresses that while freedom of expression is a constitutionally protected fundamental right, it is not absolute and does not cover speech that incites violence, hatred, or discrimination—particularly when directed against a group defined by national identity or collective belonging.

Scope of the Complaint

The complaint to be filed includes copies of the disseminated statements, evidence of their public and mass nature, and references to the applicable criminal provisions, for judicial assessment of their potential classification as hate crimes and/or incitement to violence.

ACOM’s Position

ACOM reiterates its firm commitment to the defense of democratic coexistence and to combating antisemitism. The association calls for the strict enforcement of criminal laws designed to protect society against discourse that may fuel hatred, dehumanization, or violence.