Man ‘subjected to homophobic attack’ in Madrid says injuries ‘consensual’
The man had an anti-gay slur carved into one of his buttocks.
Words: Jamie Tabberer; picture: Madrid Pride attendees in 2015 (Wiki)
A gay man who was allegedly violently assaulted in Madrid has told police his injuries were consensual, Spain’s Interior Ministry said yesterday.
The man was attacked by a gang at knifepoint outside his home on Sunday, and had the word “f****t” carved into one of his buttocks, according to reports.
The attack took place on Sunday afternoon in the Malasaña neighbourhood of Madrid. In his initial report, the man also said the gang cut his lip and verbally abused him.
“The man has changed his statement”
A Policía Nacional spokeswoman furthermore told The Guardian: “The man has changed his statement and has said that the assault was consensual.”
The spokesperson added that the man may face legal action over his false complaint.
According to Reuters, the Interior Ministry would not comment on the man’s motives or share his identity.
Protests in response to the attack were still due to take place across Spain last night. Sunday’s attack follows the death of Samuel Luiz earlier this year, after he was beaten in a homophobic attack in the city of A Coruña, which also sparked protests in Spain.
In a statement, a rep for protest group Movimiento Marika Madrid said: “Over the past few days, there have been attacks in Toledo, in Melilla, in Castellón and in Vitoria. [We will protest because] they killed Samuel for being gay and because those of you reading this have also had to suffer violence, harassment, fear and the danger of death.”
Irene Montero, Spain’s equality minister, also tweeted: “Hate crimes against the LGBTI collective rose 43% during the first half of 2021. Let’s not lose sight of the forest because of one tree.”
Data revealed in July showed hate crimes are rising in Spain, with a 9.3% increase during the first half of this year compared to 2019.
“The data confirms what we’ve been seeing for years – an objective and constant increase in hate crimes,” Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said at the time.