Esquerra asks to file charges against Sílvia Orriols in Parliament for the Islamophobic attacks on Najat Driouech

BarcelonaEsquerra (Republican Left) has responded to the Islamophobic attacks by Catalan Alliance leader Sílvia Orriols against Republican MP Najat Driouech. The mayor of Ripoll often takes advantage of her speeches in Parliament to launch barbs at Driouech for her religion—she is Muslim—and to wear the headscarf. Now, the Esquerra group has submitted a petition requesting that the Committee on the Statute of Deputies open a case to determine whether, with her "derogatory remarks" against Driouech, she has violated the code of conduct for Catalan parliamentarians.

In speeches before the plenary session, Orriols has even said that Driouech should be "ashamed" to wear the hijab and has accused her up to seven times of promoting "misogyny" or "Islamic fundamentalism." "You can't denounce discrimination against women and at the same time allow the entry of a deputy who flaunts Islamic misogyny," Orriols went so far as to say. One of the most notorious clashes ended with the president of the Generalitat (Catalan government), Salvador Illa, entering the fray: "Deputy Najat, who is not from my party, is way ahead of you. Way ahead!" he retorted. The speaker of the Parliament, Josep Rull, has also called out Sílvia Orriols on several occasions for her reference to the Republican.

In its statement, consulted by ARA, Esquerra focuses on Article 7 of the code of conduct, which establishes that all deputies "must at all times maintain respectful conduct" towards others and a "scrupulous and exemplary attitude in accordance with the principle of equality without discrimination." Also remember that, according to Article 233 of the regulations, they must maintain "order and decorum" during sessions and avoid disrupting the debate.

Possible sanctions

Now, the Commission on the Statute of Deputies will initiate proceedings to verify the alleged violation of the code of conduct and will draft a report. What punishment could the mayor of Ripoll face if it is determined that she has violated the code? There are two options: either a public reprimand or a fine that can range from 600 to 12,000 euros. One of the most high-profile cases of the last legislative period was the proceedings against Deputy Francisco de Dalmases (Juntos) for having threatened a journalist from the FAQS, which was resolved with a minimum fine of 600 euros, and a warning.

On the other hand, when it comes to overseeing the interventions of deputies, one of the obstacles is often the immunity that the legal system grants to parliamentarians. Specifically, to analyze how to confront hate speech from the chamber, the PSC, Esquerra, Comuns, Junts, and the CUP have agreed to create a study commission on fascism, racism and hate speech and the "social and political" response that must be given.

Another file

This won't be the only case the Committee on the Statute of Deputies will consider in the coming weeks. The Vox group has also requested that the Committee on the Statute of Deputies analyze whether Laure Vega, of the CUP (Party of the People's Party), violated the code of conduct in a speech in which she mocked the riots in Salt over the eviction of the municipality's imam. In a plenary session, the CUP member quoted a tweet from comedian Manel Vidal about the riots: "In Catalonia, throwing stones at the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police) and burning containers is a cultural phenomenon. Congratulations to the Muslim community of Salt."

The PP was the first to demand that the Parliament's committee investigate whether these statements could constitute a "hate crime" against the police, but the governing body of the chamber stopped the PP in its tracks by reminding them that, if they want a case opened, they must request it from the Statute of Deputies Committee. They haven't done so, but they haven't ruled out following the same path that has already activated Vox.