Violence shakes Spain
“Macho terrorism” kills four women in 24 hours
12/29/2022, 8:52 p.m
Spain is taking decisive action against domestic violence. The country is shocked that four women die within 24 hours. Interior Minister Grande-Marlaska speaks of “macho terrorism” as a “social tragedy” that affects society as a whole.
Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska has condemned male violence against women as “macho terrorism” in the wake of four women who were victims of partner-related homicides in Spain within 24 hours. The state will do everything to end these crimes, said Grande-Marlaska after a crisis meeting in Madrid. All police departments in the country have been called on to increase the protection of women and children.
In Spain, the fight against domestic violence is taken very seriously. The courts judge severely and the media report extensively. In Spain there are also special prosecutor’s offices and special courts for this crime. Grande-Marlaska said the rising number of these “horrific” crimes should be taken as a “wake-up call.” Violence in partnership is not a private matter, but a “social tragedy that we as a society have to face”.
On Wednesday, a 52-year-old killed his 32-year-old wife near Toledo, who was nine months pregnant by another man, according to the state TV broadcaster RTVE, citing the police. Also on Wednesday, according to police in Madrid, a man stabbed the 20-year-old daughter of his former partner. Another woman was stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend in Bilbao. And in Benidorm on Thursday, a 22-year-old fell from the sixth floor to her death – her boyfriend of the same age was arrested.
The newspaper “La Vanguardia” reported that the number of these crimes rose to a total of ten in December. In three other cases there is a corresponding suspicion. Last year, according to official figures, 44 women died in the country of 47 million people as a result of violent attacks by their male partners or ex-partners. In Germany in 2021 a total of 109 women were victims of murder and manslaughter in partnerships. Stand against it according to the Federal Ministry of the Interior 12 male fatalities from intimate partner violence.