Protesters clash with police for 6th night in Barcelona over imprisonment of rapper

BARCELONA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 21: Rioting and violent protests continued in Spain for a sixth consecutive night on Sunday (Feb. 21) against the imprisonment of rapper Pablo Hasel. The demonstrations concentrated in the big cities of Catalonia, such as Barcelona, ​​Girona, and Lleida, spread to cities of the Basque region today. In Barcelona, where hundreds gathered, police and protestors faced off violently. Protestors again erected barricades using objects like garbage containers, which they set on fire. They also vandalized some stores on one of the city’s main avenues and hurled objects at police. They also attacked a police station by throwing bottles. Taking extensive security measures, the police detained six people, including five people who looted shops. According to the statement made by police sources to the Spanish press, 107 people were detained and 82 people were injured in six days in Catalonia. The vast majority of the detainees were released at the court. The rapper was jailed last Tuesday (Feb. 16) on charges of glorifying terrorism and insulting the Spanish monarchy in politically charged tweets and song lyrics. He has been sentenced to nine months in prison. Amnesty International has decried the case as infringing on free speech. Spain’s far-left Deputy Prime Minister Pablo Iglesias has called on the government to urgently grant Hasel a pardon. Protests in support of Hasel were called in several cities across Spain, many of which eventually degraded into violence. As the imprisonment of Pablo Hasel triggered debates on democracy and freedom of expression in the country, left-wing radical groups throughout the country, especially Unidos Podemos, the junior partner of the left coalition government, demand Hasel be pardoned and released.(Footage by Adria Puig/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)