Spain: Protests against imam's eviction lead to clashes with police and property damage

Image: Jihad Watch

The Catalan town of Salt has experienced two nights of unrest following the arrest of an imam from sub-Saharan Africa who had been evicted after occupying a property for five years without paying rent. In response, protesters including immigrant groups and left-wing activists damaged property, confronted police, set fires, and vandalized infrastructure.

The first night saw approximately 200 people gather at a police station, throwing objects at officers and prompting deployment of riot units. Violence escalated during the second night, with masked individuals attacking police, setting fires, and causing widespread disruption. Six people were arrested, including three minors, and one officer sustained minor injuries.

These events have raised concerns about public safety and potential normalization of disorder in the community. Some rioters have reportedly bragged about their actions without apparent concern for consequences.

The Salt City Council, led by the separatist ERC party, has subsequently provided social housing to the evicted imam despite his not meeting standard vulnerability requirements for such assistance. The council defended this decision as an attempt to avoid "fueling the far right," but this has angered residents and drawn criticism from opposition politicians.

Rather than condemning the violence, the local government has focused on criticizing evictions by financial institutions, which some interpret as tacit support for the protesters rather than backing law enforcement efforts to restore order.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)