Jair Domínguez denies before the judge having called for violence against Vox: "The punch in the mouth was a metaphorical expression"

BarcelonaComedian Jair Domínguez faced this morning the trial driven by Vox against him. The far-right party reported him for an alleged hate crime for having said that

fascism

and

Nazis

are fought with a punch in the mouth, statements he made in 2021 on Catalunya Ràdio. The ultras consider that the statements were directed at them and are asking for two years in prison.

In the hearing at the Barcelona Court, Domínguez only responded to the questions of the Prosecutor's Office, which has not filed charges against him, and his defense, handled by lawyer Jaume Alonso-Cuevillas. In response to his lawyer, he stated that his words were not inciting violence against Vox or any particular person. "No, not at all," he reiterated. "The punch in the mouth was a metaphorical expression [...] A way to silence fascism and Nazism, I think it's perfectly understood," he said. "I was literally referring to fascism and Nazism," he insisted.

The Barcelona Court of Appeals is trying the case after last week's serious incident related to Vox's prosecution, on the contrary, considered that his words were indeed "forceful" in favor of violence and were directed against their voters, "whom [Domínguez] describes as a neo-Nazi polygynous Catalunya," defended the ultras' lawyer, who denied that all this could be framed as a "joke" by the comedian. "The punch in the mouth does not require sophisticated interpretation," he said, adding that the expression was made in a context of "violence" against recent electoral events of Santiago Abascal's party.

The Mossos saw "sarcasm and irony" in the statements

Domínguez's controversial statement was made after the Catalan elections in which Santiago Abascal's party entered the Parliament with 11 deputies: "Fascism and Nazis are fought with a punch in the mouth. There are no half measures, you don't negotiate with fascism," he said. Contrary to what Vox defends, however, the Mossos also saw no crime, as explained in the same trial by the agent tasked with analyzing the statements, the only witness there has been in the trial.

In the police report, as recalled, the conclusion was reached that Domínguez's "monologue" was delivered in a tone of "sarcasm and irony" and that, after his words, there was no "violent reaction" or "relevant event" that could be related. The agent highlighted that, despite the context of "polarization" at the time, the statements were made on a program with "high viewership" with "people of different political persuasions," and added: "We don't believe that people who commit violent acts listen to him."

The Barcelona Court is judging the case after last week's series following the arrest warrant issued by the judge for the comedian to appear in court. Domínguez reacted with bewilderment: "I'm at home quietly and they can't find me," he said, making it clear that he didn't need the summons to remember that he had the trial, which has been seen for sentencing. Awaiting the court's conclusions, Domínguez had already made it clear a few days ago that he does not regret his comments about the ultras. "I would do it again [...] We keep saying that violence is not an option, but they keep using it against us. Perhaps we don't turn the other cheek," he argued on RAC1.