Guillem Agulló’s father signs MCI’s petition to create a Public Prosecutor specializing in hate crimes

Valencia – April 11, 2011

Ibarra demands that hate crime victims be treated “at the same level” as those of domestic violence or terrorism.

VALENCIA, 11 (EUROPA PRESS)

Guillem Agulló, father of Guillem Agulló, a young anti-racist killed in 1993, has signed Movement Against Intolerance’s (MCI) petition to create a Public Prosecutor specializing in hate crimes in the Valencian Community, such as those already in existence in Catalonia or Madrid.

Agulló announced this in a statement to Europa Press moments before attending the ceremonies in memory of his sons, who was killed 18 years ago. The same day, Esteban Ibarra, president of MCI, presented his new book “The Racist Spain” (“La España Racista”).

Guillem Agulló has indicated that the government institutions “little by little” are realizing that hate crimes are a “worrying” phenomenon, and are beginning to take some action. He has given the example of creating a specialized Public Prosecutor in Catalonia or in Madrid, and has requested that they also install one in Valencia, “because there are very dangerous groups here and it is needed.”

Meanwhile, he has declared that they will continue “fighting” for the investigation and prosecution of such crimes. “It fell to us to live out the consequences and we will not stop fighting after all that they have made us suffer. The pain they have caused us is invaluable,” he lamented.

When asked if he considers it advisable to strengthen the punishments for this type of crime, he answered: “I am not of the opinion that harsher punishments mean rehabilitation, but what I am conscious of is that if there is education for tolerance, for difference, these things would not happen.” He clarified, “I am not in favor of harsher sentences or life imprisonment.”

Thus, he maintains that “people must rehabilitate themselves and must assume their guilt, but not in life. I neither forget nor forgive, but I also do not wish death on anyone, even my son’s killer,” says Agulló. Nevertheless, he says that it is a “scandal” that the “killer” of his son will only serve four years in prison, when the sentence was 16.

“COMMITMENT TO THE VICTIMS”

For his part, Esteban Ibarra states that the book he presents today assumes a “commitment to the victims,” and makes a special mention of Guillem Agulló. He says that hate crime victims “have been historically mistreated,” for which he demands they be treated “on the same level” as the victims of domestic violence or terrorism.

 “These victims cannot be doubly damaged describing the deeds of urban gangs or fights linked to drugs or alcohol. This is unjust and does great damage, and has the consequence of taking importance away from the problem and hiding it, which is the most serious,” he believes.

When asked about the evolution of such crimes in Valencia, he reports that there are “improvements” in Spain because there are fewer detected violent aggressions, although “there is a greater agitation, propaganda, and hostility.” In his opinion, “the epicenter is moving from street violence to propagandistic hostility,” and this “is seen in a scandalous way online, where homophobia and xenophobia have grown.” Islamaphobia is also growing, according to Ibarra.