Protesters demand suspension of legal actions from La Vuelta demonstrations

Individuals prosecuted and fined for pro-Palestinian protests during the 2025 La Vuelta cycling race in Navarre have called for the suspension of all administrative and judicial proceedings against them. During a press conference in Pamplona, demonstrators argued that “solidarity with Palestine is not a crime.”

In the Basque Country, seven people are currently facing prosecution and more than 30 have been sanctioned. Some individuals face criminal proceedings with potential prison sentences ranging from one to six years. According to Amnesty International data cited during the event, there have been more than 30 arrests and 108 sanctions across Spain, 91 of which were based on sports legislation regarding violence, racism, xenophobia, and intolerance. These regulations allow for fines reaching up to 60,000 euros.

The protesters, who originally demonstrated to boycott the participation of the Israel Premier Tech team, criticized the Spanish and regional governments, as well as La Vuelta organizers, for allowing the team to compete. They demanded that sports legislation be used against those practicing discriminatory behavior rather than those protesting it.