Thousands Rally in Spain for Women’s Rights

Thousands of people took to the streets in several cities across Spain on Sunday to protest violence against women and condemn the ongoing conflict in the Middle East following US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

The demonstrations were held to mark International Women’s Day, with rallies organised in cities including Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Granada, Bilbao and San Sebastián.

They carried placards with messages opposing war and calling for feminist resistance to what they described as imperialist conflict.

In Madrid, two separate marches were held in the city centre, with one focusing on transgender rights and the other advocating the legalisation and regulation of prostitution.

Speaking at the rally, Spain’s second deputy prime minister, Yolanda Díaz, said participants were using the demonstrations to call for peace and defend the rights of women, particularly those in Iran. 

She said the movement was committed to opposing violence and standing with the Iranian people and Iranian women.

Spain’s Socialist Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, has recently faced criticism from the United States after declining to allow Spanish military bases to be used for strikes on Iran. 

Sánchez described the military action as a serious mistake and said it was inconsistent with international law.

US President Donald Trump responded sharply to the decision, reportedly threatening to cut off trade with Spain, which is a member of both the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).