A Malaga club is facing hate crime charges over homophobic adverts for their opening. (Image: Getty)
A furious row has erupted in southern after a club defended a homophobic “no f****ts” admission rule.
The club in Torremolinos, in , west of Malaga, is now facing hate crime charges for the entrance policy.
Casa Fatima has been the subject of significant controversy due to the exclusionary and offensive language used in a new advert about its entrance policy to promote its opening night on January 18.
Found on the central Calle Cruz street in the town – known as the historic cradle of freedom for the LGBT community in Europe – the private “luxury Moroccan” club listed its no-tolerance policy to “fights, drugs, hats, flip flops and no f****ts”.
They warned on social media of “immediate expulsion” for anyone who displays “irresponsible or aggressive behaviour”.
Torremolinos mayor, Margarita del Cid, has also received insults and threats after she criticised the policy.
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Torremolinos mayor, Margarita del Cid, has also received insults and threats after she criticised the homophobic policy. (Image: Getty)
“Torremolinos is a place where diversity and respect are core values,” said the mayor.
“We are not going to tolerate these attitudes. Hate and homophobia have no place here and we’re going to do everything in our power to stop this event and any activity that shows these backward attitudes from any club,” del Cid added.
The advert also included the word “maricones”, a derogatory term used to describe homosexuals.
The mayor also sent a message of support for the community: “Torremolinos is a prism of colour and diversity. It is a town where everyone can be whatever they want to be, and this unpleasant episode reminds us that we must not stop defending freedom and human rights.”
Torremolinos holds a multi-day Gay Pride event every year in June, which attracts visitors from Spain and all around the world. Around 95,000 people were to have attended last year, breaking all previous records and seeing hotel occupancy rates of 95%.
However, the club has hit back, accusing del Cid of defending “f**s, transexuals and sick people”.
En Torremolinos no vamos a consentir estas actitudes. El odio y la homofobia no tienen cabida aquí y vamos a hacer todo lo que esté en nuestra mano para prohibir este evento y cualquier actividad de un club que fomente esta lamentable actitud. Los únicos que sobran son ellos.
— Marga (@margadcm)
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Torremolinos holds a multi-day Gay Pride event every year in June (Image: Getty)
Casa Fatima claimed they “don’t want sick or bad people in our club”.
The Junta has now begun legal proceedings against the club under a law for LGBT people, adding that they would not dismiss other legal actions. The Andalucian Consumer Rights Organisation (FACUA) has also reported the club to local authorities and asked for a hate crime investigation to be opened.
The mayor herself will present the complaint at the Torremolinos and Benalmádena National Police station, both on behalf of the town hall and in a personal capacity, for the crimes of defamation and hate speech, reported .
The event’s promoters have responded by moving the party to city.
“On the bright side, it’s not going to happen in Torremolinos under any circumstances but the bad news for them is that we are going to report them for hate crimes and do whatever is necessary to stop these awful homophobic attitudes,” said del Cid.