'Germany's Deceitful Media' Overlooks Tough Spanish 'Gag Law,' Slams Russia

Germany's mass media has turned a blind eye to real freedom of speech violations in Europe but relishes the opportunity to take a shot at Russian authorities and their alleged undemocratic tendencies, warned a German website created to tackle disinformation and propaganda in the German media.

The mainstream media outlets use unauthorized rallies or staged protests as a pretext to accuse the Kremlin of repressions, Propagandaschau wrote. The remarks are always superficial and no effort is made to analyze Russian legislation or compare it to the European laws, the media outlet added.

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© REUTERS / Juan Medina

Demonstrators with their mouths taped sit outside the Spanish parliament during a protest against Spanish government's new security law in central Madrid, Spain, early July 1, 2015. Spanish government's new security law, which toughens fines for unauthorised street protests, comes into effect July 1. Critics consider it a violation of the right to protest and a limit to free expression and have labelled it "Ley Mordaza" (Gag Law). REUTERS/Juan Medina

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© REUTERS / Sergio Perez

A woman, with her mouth taped, wears a mask during a protest against Spanish government's new security law in central Madrid, Spain, June 30, 2015. Spanish government's new security law, which toughens fines for unauthorised street protests, comes into effect July 1. Critics consider it a violation of the right to protest and a limit to free expression and have labelled it "Ley Mordaza" (Gag Law). The banners read, "Freedom of expression". REUTERS/Sergio Perez

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© AP Photo / Andres Kudacki

Protestors march as they carry a flag with a caricature representing Span's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy dressed in a nazi uniform reading "Spanish, out of Europe" as they protest against the Public Security Law in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, June 30, 2015. Thousands of protesters railed Tuesday against a new Spanish public security law nicknamed the "gag law" before it went into effect at midnight, slamming it as legalized muzzling of free expression and the media. It was pushed through by the conservative Popular Party in the wake of largely peaceful protests that hit Spain after the financial crisis began in 2008. The demonstrations hit an apex in 2012 as the nation teetered on the verge of economic meltdown only to be saved by a bailout of its troubled banks. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

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© REUTERS / Juan Medina

Demonstrators with their mouths taped sit outside the Spanish parliament during a protest against Spanish government's new security law in central Madrid, Spain, early July 1, 2015. Spanish government's new security law, which toughens fines for unauthorised street protests, comes into effect July 1. Critics consider it a violation of the right to protest and a limit to free expression and have labelled it "Ley Mordaza" (Gag Law). REUTERS/Juan Medina

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© REUTERS / Sergio Perez

A woman, with her mouth taped, wears a mask during a protest against Spanish government's new security law in central Madrid, Spain, June 30, 2015. Spanish government's new security law, which toughens fines for unauthorised street protests, comes into effect July 1. Critics consider it a violation of the right to protest and a limit to free expression and have labelled it "Ley Mordaza" (Gag Law). The banners read, "Freedom of expression". REUTERS/Sergio Perez

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© AP Photo / Andres Kudacki

Protestors march as they carry a flag with a caricature representing Span's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy dressed in a nazi uniform reading "Spanish, out of Europe" as they protest against the Public Security Law in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, June 30, 2015. Thousands of protesters railed Tuesday against a new Spanish public security law nicknamed the "gag law" before it went into effect at midnight, slamming it as legalized muzzling of free expression and the media. It was pushed through by the conservative Popular Party in the wake of largely peaceful protests that hit Spain after the financial crisis began in 2008. The demonstrations hit an apex in 2012 as the nation teetered on the verge of economic meltdown only to be saved by a bailout of its troubled banks. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

When a European country passes a law which turns any demonstration into a gamble of consequences, ranging from jail to bankruptcy, the German "fairytale media world" holds its tongue, Propagandaschau pointed out. The ones keeping silent include the world's largest public broadcaster ARD and German public-service television broadcaster ZDF.

Spain's highly controversial Public Security Law is the legislation in point. Dubbed by its opponents the "gag law," it came into effect on July 1.

The anti-protest law introduces large fines of up to 600,000 euros for holding unauthorized or illegal protests, including peaceful gatherings and sit-ins. It also prohibits Spanish citizens from filming or taking photos of police officers, allows harsh punishment for those deemed to be resisting arrest and bans rallies near the parliament or regional legislatures.

Under the new law, those who urge others to join a demonstration or post information relating to a planned protest activity on social media, be that Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, could also be fined, EUobserver pointed out. 

— How are things going in Spain?— We can't complain — So all is fine?— No, no, we *can't* complain #gaglaw #LeyMordaza

— David Jacovkis (@dvdjaco) 30 июня 2015

Opponents of the legislation, including opposition parties, lawyers, judges and NGOs, claim the wording of the law is ambiguous, which could result in the country turning into a "police state" if the law is not repealed.

#Spain banned social media activism: Using Twitter to call people to protest will be fined under new law #LeyMordaza pic.twitter.com/WlSx1jydTX

— News2Tor (@News2Tor) 5 июля 2015

Only 7 percent of the Spanish population support the measure, EUobserver wrote, citing a survey conducted in late 2014.

The only way you can take a picture to cops is becoming a hologram, from July 1st at #Spain's streets #GagLaw pic.twitter.com/IGboCjDPuE

— 15MBcn_int (@15MBcn_int) 5 мая 2015

On July 30, civil rights activists and left-wing parties held protests across Spain in a bid to fight the law, which some fear is one of the greatest infringements on the rights of Spaniards.

Holograms projected onto #Spain's parliament to protest new #GagLaw. @DoomsdaysCW @bluebarontrader pic.twitter.com/kN9rzxP7Tw

— MP Garza (@mpgarza2012) 12 апреля 2015

Yet the German mass media remained silent on the matter, Propagandaschau noted, adding that "ARD and ZDF found plenty of time for football, weather forecasts and other nonsense, but did not say a word about the [Spanish] law."