Spanish politicians are reacting to allegations of abuse against Julio Iglesias: they are calling for an investigation and want to withdraw honors.
The public prosecutor’s office is investigating Julio Iglesias over allegations of sexual violence and labor exploitation. Former employees describe a system of control and oppression – the image of the Spanish world star is beginning to waver. And politicians argue about the consequences.
Details of the allegations
Two women, represented by the Women’s Link organization, filed a complaint on January 5 with the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Audiencia Nacional alleging sexual harassment and assault in 2021 by Julio Iglesias. The case was reported by “elDiario.es” and “Univisión”.
According to the complaint, the women allegedly experienced various forms of violence – sexual, psychological, physical and economic – between January and October 2021 during their employment at the singer’s properties in the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas. According to the statements, Iglesias sexually harassed and assaulted them, regularly checked their cell phones, forbade them to leave the house where they worked, and demanded work hours of up to 16 hours a day with no days off and no contract.
The public prosecutor’s office was informed of matters that could potentially constitute criminal offenses such as human trafficking for labor exploitation and forced labor, crimes against sexual freedom such as sexual harassment, and bodily harm and violations of workers’ rights.
How seriously are the allegations taken?
The leader of the conservative People’s Party (PP), Alberto Núñez Feijóo, commented on Wednesday, January 14, on the allegations made by two women against the singer. In an interview with Telecinco, he explained that, like most Spaniards, he was “very, very surprised” by the allegations. He described the allegations as “very serious” and stressed the need for the investigation launched by the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Audiencia Nacional to “determine exactly what is really going on.” With this statement, Feijóo distances himself from the position of his party colleague Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the president of the Madrid region. The latter announced to the public on Tuesday, January 13th: “The Madrid region will never contribute to the damage to the reputation of artists, especially not the most universal singer of all: Julio Iglesias.”
Díaz calls for the cultural medal to be withdrawn for ethical reasons
Second Vice President and leader of the left-wing Sumar party, Yolanda Díaz, spoke out in favor of withdrawing the Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts awarded to Julio Iglesias by the Spanish government in 2010. In an interview with public television TVE, she said she had spoken to Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun, also from Sumar, about this possibility. He will decide on the medal “in the coming days”.
Díaz distinguished between criminal and ethical responsibility: “One thing is the criminal responsibility that one can have, and then there is the ethical responsibility. Everything we are experiencing seems to require exemplary action in this matter.” She emphasized that the withdrawal of the award did not constitute a violation of the presumption of innocence.
Criticism of Ayuso’s attitude
Díaz criticized the reaction of the Madrid regional president. Ayuso had refused to withdraw the Madrid Region gold medal awarded to Iglesias in 2012. Díaz accused her of taking this stance on the side of “machismo” and “violating human rights.” She asked Feijóo whether he felt comfortable with these statements from his party colleague.
Amnesty International supports plaintiffs
Amnesty International announced in a statement that it would support the two plaintiffs and call for an investigation. The organization emphasizes that the women did not speak out about what happened for almost five years due to fear of professional reprisals, a lack of safe reporting channels and a culture that has historically disregarded and discredited the voices of those affected.
According to the statement, one of the women said her goal was “that no woman should have to suffer this type of abuse from him again. I want to convey the message that women are victims and survivors, not perpetrators or culprits.” Amnesty International points out that the experiences of the two women may have similarities to those of other women from South America and the Caribbean who are said to have worked for the accused.