Mayor Almudena Negro sealed the declaration with the motto «Torrelodones is your home», marking a milestone in the fight against intolerance. This act underscores the importance of public institutions taking an active role in preventing and combating all forms of discrimination.
The council's decision comes amid an increase in incidents and hate speech. A commission has been established to strengthen joint actions with various administrations, using the IHRA definition as a tool to raise awareness, prevent, and support values of coexistence. The aim is to remember that «together we are stronger against hate».
Mayor Almudena Negro recalled previous discriminatory motions approved in other Spanish municipalities, such as the one by the Rivas Vaciamadrid City Council in 2016, which were later annulled by the courts for violating fundamental rights. «Discriminatory motions like this have been presented and approved in at least 57 other Spanish municipalities, and justice has been overturning them one by one,» she stated.
Negro expressed shame over antisemitic comments on social media and recent incidents like the denial of entry to venues for wearing the Star of David or the calls for the expulsion of athletes and artists for being Israeli. «You cannot prevent Jews from entering premises for wearing their Star of David, as recently happened in a sauna in Catalonia, nor can you demand the expulsion of athletes or artists from sporting events or competitions simply for being Israeli,» she emphasized.
The primary objective is to prevent history from repeating itself and to stop the resurgence of extremism. «If we, from the city councils, the front line in defense of freedom and against hatred, do not fight this battle, the war for fraternity will be lost,» concluded the mayor.
The IHRA's definition of antisemitism, agreed upon in 2016 and adopted by over 45 countries and 1,266 international organizations, is now a tool for the Torrelodones City Council. The council commits to monitoring signs of hatred, promoting initiatives against antisemitism, and defending human rights, including incorporating this definition into its code of conduct.
