Aleesha Hansel
A RAPPER has been sentenced to three-and-half-years after slandering the Spanish monarchy.
On Tuesday Spain’s Supreme Court upheld the sentence that a Madrid court had given to Valtonyc, real name Jose Miguel, for “inciting terrorism” and insulting the Spanish royal family.
In his defence plea, Valtonyc’s legal team argued that his lyrics were protected under the freedom of expression law and described rap as often using lyrics seen as “extreme, provocative, allegorical and symbolic”.
Rejecting his defence, the court ruled that his lyrics “supported and praised” terrorist groups ETA and GRAPO.
Exhibited as evidence in court, sixteen of Valtonyc’s songs including “Facism is Cured by Dying” and “They Should be Afraid 2,” called out the Crown and government for their roles in repression and corruption.
“The Bourbons are thieves,” was just one of the lyrics cited and referred to the House of Bourbon of which King Felipe VI and his father, the former monarch Juan Carlos belong.
When giving the final verdict the court stated that the content of the songs contained praise of “violent means employed by [terrorist] organizations and contain an incitement to their reiteration”.
