Sagrada Família choir expulsion leads to legal complaint and government criticism

During the solemn mass and blessing of the Jesus tower at Barcelona's Sagrada Família on 10 June, around 600 singers were removed from the ceremony and confined in a police‑security enclosure that the organizers say lacked legal justification. The civil association Acció Cassandra lodged a criminal complaint alleging hate offences, illegal detention, abuse of authority and possible criminal liability for the basilica's board, noting that minors from the children's choir were also detained.

The Spanish government’s Catalan spokesperson, Sílvia Paneque, refused to explain the expulsions, characterising the event as a liturgical act not organised by the government. She acknowledged that “some aspects could have been improved” while emphasising the overall success of the ceremony and the positive image projected abroad. Acció Cassandra has launched a crowdfunding campaign to cover the costs of the legal process, including potential bail.