Twitter has received heavy criticism after a hashtag calling for the burning of priests in Spain went viral last week. The hashtag violates the social media platforms’ rules prohibiting the promotion of violence.
According to Crux Now, on Tuesday, pro-Marxist groups first issued the hashtag #FuegoAlClero, which means set fire to the clergy, in defense of a new bill – the Celaa Law – that would reform Spain’s education system and give the state control over religious education in public schools.
The viral hashtag included imagery of clergy whose heads are engulfed in flames.
Calls to burn down churches were also spawned from the hashtag.
Education institutions have opposed the Celaa law, named after Spanish minister of education, Isabel Celaa, as it would place the state in control over religious instruction in public schools and restrict support for thousands of Catholic schools, which places them at risk of closure.
Specialist schools serving disabled children also face possible closure as the new law would require the children to be sent to public schools in order to “mainstream” them. But experts and parents of the special needs children.
In opposition to the legislation, Bishops, alongside employees, unions and parents collectively created the platform “Mas Plurales,” in calling for plurality within the Spanish education system.
Last Sunday, hundreds of thousands protested against the Celaa law even though the socialist government contended that those defending Catholic private education are in support of a state-financed educational system marked by “segregating elitism and privilege.”
According to Twitter’s Hateful Conduct Policy, users cannot promote or threaten violence against people or [a] group of people, including those of a particular religious affiliation.
Additionally, hateful images and display names are also prohibited.
As of the time of this writing, the hashtag and its accompanying imagery have not been removed from Twitter.
Photo courtesy: Brett Jordan/Unsplash
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer. Visit his blog Blessed Are The Forgiven.
