The summer of discontent: What you need to know about living in Spain from the 1st July 2015 .

It's never been so easy to be seen as a terrorist...

Yes, summer 2015 looks to be a hottie in just about every conceivable way. One hot topic of the moment is the extent to which people in Spain can speak out about injustice or abuse of the law. Given's Spain's recent poor record in these areas, you would think the government would be making it easier for us to report such abuses. But no! The opposite is true and today - 1st July 2015 -  these restrictions on what you can and cannot do becomes law. 

How does this affect me, I’m only interested in the beach, filling my pool or the sangria jug?
Well, though you may think it doesn't affect you, it would be wise to at least be aware of how your conduct may be interpreted by the good officers of the state. Read below for a list of some of the new crimes that have been invented by this government and then, pin it to your fridge door so that this summer, you don’t accidentally end up with a heavy fine or being exported as a terrorist for simply visiting a web page, taking a photo of demonstration, or looking blankly at policeman in the course of his duty.

12 Changes in the Law You Need to Know About

1: If you photograph security personal and then share these images on social media: Up to 30.000 euros fine (particularly if photo exposes violence being used against a member of the public). It is possible that this fine may be increased depending on the number of Instagram followers you have. 

2: Tweet or Retweet information or the "location of an organised protest" can now be interpreted as an act of terrorism as it incites others to "commit a crime" (now that "demonstrating" in many ways has become a crime). Sounds 1984-ish?  Read Orwell and his time in Spain. 

3: Snowden like Whistle-blowing is now defined as an act of terrorism. If you write for a local rag, careful what you print, who you speak to and whether the budgie is listening.

4: Visit or Consult terrorist web sites - even for investigative purposes - can be interpreted as an act of terrorism. Make sure you use “Tor" browser, reject cookies, don’t allow pop-ups, and don’t post it on your FB timeline! Hmmmm. Is Speaking of Spain a terrorist website? 

5: Careful with the royal jokes! Any satirical comment against the royal family is a new crime “against the Crown”. For example, "What did Leticia and the Bishop have to say after they...(SORRY CENSORED)

6: No more hassling elected members of the govt. or local authorities - even if they do say one thing in order to be elected, and then go and do the exact opposite. Confronting them about this hypocritical behaviour -  if you see them in the street chatting to that street cleaner , dining at their favourite expensive restaurant, or having their shoes shined by that physics graduate who can't find a decent job in the country  -  hassling them about their behaviour is now a criminal offence. 

7: Has your local river been so polluted by that plastic factory along the edge that all life has been extinguished. Well, tough! Greenpeace like protests are now finable  from 601 - 30.000 euros.

8: Protest in a spontaneous way outside Parliament - for example if Parliament passes a hugely unpopular bill, or are debating something extremely important to you or your community - is now finable from 601 - 30.000 euros. TIP: Use Google Maps to protest "just" round the corner - only don't tweet the location!

9: Obstruct an officer in the course of their business (evicting someone from their house for example), or "resisting arrest", refusing to leave a demonstration when told to do so or getting in the way of a swinging baton - are all now finable offences from 601 - 30.000 euros. 

10. Showing lack of respect to officers of the law is an immediate fine of 100 - 600 euros (Answering back or asking a disrespectful question, making a funny face, showing your bottom to an officer of the law or telling him/her that their breath reminds you of your dog's under-parts is now, sadly, not advisable)

11. Occupying or squatting or refusing to leave an office, business, bank or other place until your complaint has been heard as a protest - 100 - 600 euros fine (No more flashmob demo’s). 

12. Digital protests: Writing something that could technically “disturb the peace” is a now crime: Bloggers beware, for no-one had yet defined who's peace you could be disturbing. 

Terrorist Alert!

Oops! Showing Disrespect and Disturbing the Peace - 600€ fine for political pooches.

Bloggers Beware

Of course a lot of this is impossible to enforce (yet),  but, nevertheless, should you be out and about and see a commotion in the street - a dog disrespectfully peeing up the tyre of a police patrol car, a lost tourist doing a quick selfie with a Civil Guard in the bar - think twice about snapping an image on your mobile phone and posting it to your FaceBook timeline. It could an expensive post. 

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