Spain: Far-Right Mayor Fined for Anti-Muslim Remarks in Catalonia

Silvia Orriols, the far-right mayor of Ripoll in Catalonia, Spain, has been fined €10,000 ($11,160) for Islamophobic comments made during a broadcast on 8TV, Daily Sabah reported yesterday.

Known for her anti-Muslim stance, Orriols, founder of the anti-immigrant party Alianca Catalana, claimed that Muslims threaten Catalan identity. Following her election victory in 2023, she proclaimed the “reconquest of Catalonia” had begun in Ripoll.

In August 2023, she called for a ban on ‘burkinis’ in municipal pools and sought the removal of halal meat from public schools. Local opposition parties expressed concern over her rhetoric, warning of rising tension and potential violence. Despite her controversial views, Orriols’ influence, alongside her former party’s governance in another town, raises alarms about the future of Catalan separatism.