Spain probes anti-Semitic speech at neo-Nazi rally

Prosecutors in Madrid say they have opened an investigation into anti-Semitic comments made at a neo-Nazi rally held on the weekend which drew ire from Spain’s Jewish community.

The incident took place Saturday when around 300 people gathered at La Almudena cemetery, with footage on social media showing several people in the crowd repeatedly giving the Nazi salute.

Madrid, last Saturday. Commemoration of the nazi 'Blue Division'.

Fascist flags, songs and Nazi salute. I'm furious this is still legal. We've a huge problem when this sh*te is allowed but a rapper is facing prison for songs against the Spanish crown.pic.twitter.com/8Ih4uqNckI

— Nerea F.C ???? (@nereafercor) February 15, 2021

The rally, which was also attended by a Catholic priest, was a commemoration of the so-called “Blue Division,” a unit of Spanish military volunteers that fought for the Nazis during World War II. At the cemetery, they laid flowers in front of the memorial to the fallen Blue Division soldiers. During the rally, a young woman gave an inflammatory speech echoing rhetoric from the 1930s.

The region’s prosecutors confirm they’ve opened a criminal investigation “to gather information about the anti-Semitic statements” which could constitute an offense relating to the exercise of fundamental rights and public freedoms, according to a statement received by AFP.