Spanish government, public opinion and civil society castigate anti-Moroccan racist wave

The Spanish public opinion, authorities and civil society castigated on Friday and Saturday the racist wave against Moroccan residents of Terrassa, Barcelona suburbs, and insisted on the need to defend their rights.

The Spanish media also condemned the upsurge of racist acts by young skinheads who violently protested last week the presence of the Moroccan community settled in the region and looted shops belonging to Moroccans and other Arab residents.

In protest against the wave of anti-Arab racist acts that hit the city, more than one thousand persons representing non-governmental organizations, trade unions and political parties rallied on Friday night in the main square of Terrassa to claim the protection of the rights of aliens.

"We are all neighbors, residents and immigrants," read a large streamer.

Last Wednesday, a young Moroccan, living in the suburbs of the Spanish northern city, suffered serious injuries by a group of racist demonstrators.

The Moroccan man who was attacked in front of his house was taken to hospital and the police had to interfere to protect another Moroccan who was about to be lynched by angry skinheads.

In response to these racist events, the spokesman of the Spanish government called for calm to avoid similar events and warned that the government will not pardon instigators of such actions. He argued that the Spanish society should show solidarity and should not forget that some decades ago it, itself, was sending emigrants abroad in search of a living.

Another Spanish local official said the persons arrested in connection with the incidents will be brought to court for charges of discrimination, hatred and racist violence.

Under Spanish law, persons found guilty of racist acts face prison sentences ranging between one to three years.