Barcelona's court has acquitted humorist Jaïr Domínguez of the hate crime charge brought by Vox over a 2021 radio comment. Judges ruled his words fell under freedom of expression and posed no real danger.
Barcelona's Audiencia court issued a ruling Tuesday acquitting Domínguez, whom Vox had sought to sentence to two years in prison. The comedian had said two days after the February 14, 2021 Catalan elections that “fascism, the Nazis, are fought with a punch in the mouth” during his slot on Catalunya Ràdio.
The judges concluded the comment, delivered in a sarcastic tone and with metaphorical value, did not incite violence or create real risk. They noted it was an isolated incident and lacked elements to qualify as a hate crime.
The prosecution had already requested acquittal, citing European case law that protects exaggeration and provocation in political criticism. Vox maintained its accusation even though the remarks led to no subsequent incidents, according to the Mossos d’Esquadra report.
