On August 4, 2026, the High Court of Justice of Madrid confirmed the conviction of María Isabel Peralta, a far-right activist, to one year in prison for inciting hatred and discrimination against Moroccans. The court rejected her appeal against the initial ruling.
The case stems from social media posts in which Peralta made derogatory and inflammatory statements about the Moroccan community in Spain. The court found that her remarks went beyond the bounds of freedom of expression and constituted a clear incitement to hatred and discrimination, as defined under Spanish criminal law.
Peralta, who has been linked to far-right groups, had argued that her comments were protected by free speech. However, the court emphasized that such protections do not extend to speech that promotes hostility or violence against a specific ethnic or national group.
The sentence, which was upheld in full, marks a significant legal precedent in Spain's efforts to combat hate speech and protect minority communities. Legal experts note that the ruling reinforces the judiciary's commitment to upholding anti-discrimination laws.
