Two of those arrested and charged with rape in Magalluf

Two of those arrested in Magalluf a fortnight ago. | Alejandro Sepúlveda

Andrew EdePalma24/08/2023 12:34
TW
0

The new Balearic government has said that it will be amending aspects of the tourism of excesses law. It hasn't specified what has actually been wrong with the law, but there has been a suggestion that amendment may, for example, address certain vagueness in the text and apparent discrimination in the law's application. If so, then there is the example of the objectification of women, which was highlighted by the case of the Stereo Temple bar in Magalluf. The order to close the bar by Calvia town hall, it was argued, was the result of subjective interpretation of this objectification. It was discriminatory insofar as a bar in the part of Magalluf not covered by the law could do the same thing - have a female dancer as a form of publicity - and be unaffected.

I'm not for one moment suggesting that this specific example has anything to do with cases of rape. However, the government, I would suggest, should tread warily if it wishes to amend the law. It doesn't appear to be about to take a more relaxed attitude towards excesses, but it might nevertheless send out a wrong message at a time when it can least afford to. It is understood that the police aren't sure of what the government has in mind, but as nothing specific has been stated, it's difficult for the police to view amendment as anything more than a political issue. Which it most likely is.

Since March this year, there have been at least six reported cases of rape - alleged or otherwise - involving tourists. Two Colombian men were arrested in Magalluf in March; their victim was a 25-year-old British woman. A British man was arrested at the airport in May as he tried to leave Spain; he was reported to have raped a 20-year-old British woman at a hotel in Magalluf. Two Irishmen were arrested at the airport in July seeking to fly to Dublin; their detention related to an accusation of having raped a British woman in Magalluf. A gang of German men were arrested for the rape of a German woman in Arenal in July. And five Frenchmen and one Swiss man were arrested a fortnight ago accused of the gang rape of a British woman at a Magalluf hotel. Three Britons were detained for the alleged rape of a British woman at the same hotel last week.

It might be pointed out that the case in May involved a man aged 45. A further case, one not of rape but of sexual assault because of the touching of a woman's private parts (also in Magalluf), involved a 48-year-old British man. So, one can't solely attribute these offences to young men who are out of control. But generally speaking, one can.

Related news
Two of the Britons accused of rape in Magalluf arrive at court

Britons accused of Magalluf rape released on charges

More related news

Mallorca has known its incidents of tourism shame and disgrace over the years. There are of course cases that don't involve tourists, but these don't grab the attention of a foreign media which is only too ready to pounce on anything with which to beat Mallorca. The notorious mamading case of 2014 was a real low point, and a certain British newspaper reacted by planting a mole to try and dig out other sensationalism. The old maxim of what happens in Mallorca stays in Mallorca has never been less accurate. It has been redundant for years, courtesy of a media desperate for its web traffic but well catered for when things happen to go viral.

But one can't blame the media from whichever country when incidents occur of the seriousness of those in Arenal with the German men and in Magalluf with the French-Swiss gang. They have obviously been reported, but the problem then lies with the image they convey of Mallorca. They are an ultimate disgrace, a member of the security forces having told a media outlet in Poland that "these offenders don't consider themselves perpetrators of anything, because they believe that abuse is part of the holiday package".

The hyper-trivialisation of these offences by recording them on phones is an appalling indictment. But you might ask - what do you expect of the current day? Which brings us back to that tourism of excesses law provision regarding objectification. The new government and also the new administration at Calvia town hall are going to come under close scrutiny.

In all this, it is possible to portray Mallorca as a victim of the actions of individuals that the island doesn't want but which is powerless to prevent so long as there is persistence in defending a 'partying' tourism which is the product of the 2020s and no longer the 1980s. "Abuse is part of the holiday package"; good grief. Yes, the island is a victim, but let's just be clear - there are the real victims. Such as the women in Magalluf, to whom President Prohens has sent out messages of support before returning to a political theme of the day - the excesses law "has not worked".

Maybe it hasn't, not that we really know how it hasn't, but for God's sake don't go making it any worse.