Topless Protest Against Fascism Erupts in Violence
A peaceful, albeit unorthodox, protest against fascism in Madrid took a deeply disturbing turn on Thursday evening when two female activists were sexually assaulted. The women, from the feminist group Femen, were staging a topless demonstration outside the Parroquia de Doce Apostoles church in the affluent Salamanca neighbourhood.
The incident occurred as a mass was being held inside the church to mark the 50th anniversary of the death of Spain's former fascist dictator, Francisco Franco. Wearing only trousers, the activists held up posters while chanting anti-fascism slogans, directly countering Franco supporters who had gathered outside.
Shocking Assault Captured on Camera
The situation escalated when an unnamed man, wrapped in a flag from the Franco era, approached one of the women and placed his hand on her left breast. Footage of the incident shows the woman quickly backing away, shouting, 'Sir, don't touch me! Don't touch me!'
Her companion rushed to stand between them, but the man persisted, turning his attention to the second woman and groping her as well. Despite this appalling behaviour and onlookers shouting derogatory slurs, the activists courageously continued their chants.
Several Spanish media outlets, who were present to cover the controversial service, captured the entire disturbing event on camera.
National Outrage and a Divided Political Legacy
The assault sparked immediate and widespread condemnation across Spain. Spain's Equalities Minister released a powerful statement on X, saying, 'How utterly unashamed must one feel to assault two women right in front of the cameras.' The statement added, 'Fifty years have passed and some people haven't learned a thing, but society in general has, and we no longer tolerate the abuse of women or the admiration of a dictator. Our bodies are our own.'
The protest and subsequent assault highlight the deep and persistent political divisions in Spain regarding the legacy of Franco's four-decade dictatorship. As worshippers left the ceremony, dozens chanted 'Long live Franco' and shouted insults against Spain's socialist Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez.
Support for the far-right has seen a spike in recent years. A survey last month by the state-run pollster CIS revealed that more than 21 percent of Spaniards now view the Franco era as 'good' or 'very good' for the country, a significant increase from the 11 percent recorded in 2000.
In response, the Socialist-led government has intensified efforts to confront the nation's past, exhuming victims of Francoism and designating sites of repression as places of 'democratic memory'. However, these measures are contested in court by conservative and far-right parties, who label them divisive.
