Spanish city honours migrants who intervened in homophobic attack
A Spanish city has honoured two Senegalese migrants for their heroism in trying to save a gay man beaten to death by a homophobic mob.Ibrahima Diack and Magatte N'Diaye were given "adopted sons of the city" status in A Coruña on Monday in a formal ceremony recognising their actions.The men were the only ones to intervene in July 2021, when Samuel Luiz was set upon by a group of men and kicked and punched outside a nightclub in the north-western city.The 24-year-old later died of his injuries in hospital - an event which sparked national outrage and condemnation.
On Monday, at a formal ceremony in the city council's hall, mayor Inés Rey described the migrants' actions as "pure heroism". Footage of that night showed other bystanders watching on, some filming on mobiles, and the two being the only ones who intervened."That two undocumented migrants were the only ones who physically risked themselves to help the victim of a pack thirsting for horror leaves much food for thought and a series of lessons," Mayor Rey said."Thank you for your example in risking everything despite having a lot to lose," said another councillor, Rosalía López, on Instagram in a post sharing videos of the ceremony.Mr Diack and Mr N'Diaye had been living in the city without papers at the time and doing irregular work, putting them at risk of arrest and deportation if they came into contact with authorities.But both men on Monday said they had just done what they thought was the right thing in trying to stop the violence. In front of a crowd of attendees at the council hall on Monday, they were handed plaques by the mayor bestowing them with the status of "Adopted Sons of A Coruña". "We are not heroes, we did what we had to do," said Mr N'Diaye, according to an AFP report.Mr Diack said: "I was born in a family that doesn't have much... but they gave me many things more valuable than money. They gave me respect, education and above all, values."The two were also crucial witnesses in the trial of Mr Luiz's killers last November, Spanish media reported.A jury found four men guilty of the murder, with the court ordering sentences between 10 and 24 years. The court found the main accused - given a 24-year sentence - had shouted homophobic insults during the attack.Tens of thousands of migrants reach Spain illegally every year through boat crossings across the Atlantic - with the most common arrivals from Mali, Senegal and Morocco.
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New Statesman
3 hours ago
- New Statesman
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Scottish Sun
10 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
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Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MAGALUF is looking unusually bare as Brits shunned the popular holiday spot after feeling "tired of being demonised". Dozens of beach sunbeds lay empty as the usual UK party-animals were nowhere to be seen - opting to spend their time in Benidorm instead. 9 Deck chairs lay empty in the Spanish resort Credit: Solarpix 9 Restaurants that were once filled with boozing Brits appeared bare Credit: Solarpix 9 Figures published last week showed Benidorm's leading visitors were Brits and its average hotel occupancy rate had reached almost 85 per cent in May. Meanwhile, pictures of the Spanish resort showed deserted beaches and empty restaurants - a steep contrast to what was once described as a "lawless party" hub. Deck chairs that would previously have been filled with boozing Brits sat empty, whilst Magaluf's once crowd-stricken streets appeared decidedly desolate. The barren resort is a positive change for many locals, who despaired at the "touristification" of their town. They're welcoming instead a new wave of tourists hailing from different European countries, which they hope will clean up the resort's image. Nightclub boss, Migue Perez-Masra, told local press that Playa de Palma, near the Majorcan capital, has seen a sharp increase in German tourists. 9 Once crowd-stricken streets now seemed visibly empty Credit: Solarpix 9 The barren resort is a positive change for many locals Credit: Solarpix 9 Magaluf was branded a lawless party resort Credit: Solarpix He claimed young Brits are turning their backs on Magaluf after feeling 'demonized" by locals. The area is now seeing more and more French and Italian visitors too. Attempts to clean up the resort's image come as Magaluf was branded a lawless party resort after a shocking sex video emerged in June 2014 showing a British tourist performing sex acts on 24 men in a bar. The 18-year-old at the centre of the viral footage was reportedly duped into performing the sex acts for what she thought was a free break that turned out to be a cocktail named 'Holiday'. At the time, Spanish politician Jose Ramon Bauza, branded Punta Ballena - Magaluf's strip - as '500 metres of shame'. Anti-tourist mob attacks holidaymakers with water guns as they vow Spain faces 'long hot summer' of protest carnage The bar was ordered to close for a year whilst authorities cracked the whip on unruly behaviour. Fines of up to £50,000 were introduced for holidaymakers caught leaping off their hotel balconies, whilst limits were set on the amount of alcohol served at all-inclusive hotels. Further restrictions in Spanish party resorts were introduced last year. In parts of Majorca and Ibiza, tourists can be fined up to £1,300 for drinking on the streets and shops are now only allowed to sell alcohol at certain times. Britain's then-Ambassador to Spain Hugh Elliott urged holidaymakers in the Majorcan party resort to 'show responsibility' and remember they were "guests" in Spain. This Sunday anti-tourism protestors will stage another demonstration in the Majorcan capital Palma. The demo has been organised by activist organisation Menys Turisme, Mes Vida, with 60 groups already pledging to take part. Protestors from other cities including Barcelona and San Sebastian will also take to a streets as part of co-ordinated events. A Menys Turisme, Mes Vida spokesman said last week: 'We will demonstrate for the right to a decent life and to demand the brakes are put on the touristification of this island.' 9 Many locals lamented at the loss of their town to boozing Brits Credit: Solarpix 9 Residents said they're welcoming in a new stream of tourists from Europe Credit: Solarpix
Scottish Sun
11 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
I was 15 when my nude pics were leaked – grown men sent them around at the football club & everyone blamed ME
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