> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://barna.news/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Barcelona Officer Suspended Over Catalan Language Remarks - URL: https://barna.news/barcelona-officer-suspended-over/ - Published: 2026-11-05T08:20:20.000Z - Updated: 2026-11-05T08:20:20.000Z - Description: A Guàrdia Urbana officer has been suspended for 24 days without pay after being recorded making derogatory comments about speaking Catalan. - Author: Barna.News News Desk - Tags: politics ## Officer Sanctioned After Linguistic Conflict The Barcelona City Council has suspended a Guàrdia Urbana officer for 24 days without pay following a linguistic dispute with a citizen in July 2025\. The incident, which only came to light after a video was published on Thursday 5th November 2026 by language rights group Plataforma per la Llengua, shows the officer refusing to speak Catalan and calling the request 'very fascist-like'. The confrontation occurred on Rambla Prim when the officer stopped a woman seeking access to a cordoned-off area. After she asked to be addressed in Catalan, as permitted under municipal regulations, the officer responded: 'We speak how we want, like you.' He also claimed speaking Catalan was 'fascist' and 'totalitarian', despite public servants in Barcelona being legally required to provide service in Catalan when requested. --- ## Legal Obligations and Public Outcry Under Article 38 of Act 22/1998 of the Municipal Charter of Barcelona and the city’s Regulation on the Use of the Catalan Language, municipal workers must offer services primarily in Catalan and cannot deny linguistic choice to citizens. Civil servants, including police officers, are required to pass language proficiency tests before joining the force. The woman involved reminded the officer that she paid his salary through taxes, a point echoed by Plataforma per la Llengua in its formal complaint filed with the Mayor’s Office in December 2025\. The organisation stated the sanction 'represents the institutional recognition of a violation of linguistic rights', though it has not been given access to the full disciplinary file. > The Barcelona City Council strongly condemns any form of linguistic discrimination and is committed to protecting the rights of all citizens, regardless of their language. The Guàrdia Urbana also issued a statement affirming its commitment to impartiality and respect, adding that it does not tolerate discrimination within its ranks. --- ## Broader Context and Next Steps The case has reignited debate over linguistic rights in Catalonia. Plataforma per la Llengua is now urging the courts to overturn a fine issued to the woman for 'rebuking and disparaging the agents' during the encounter. The organisation argues the fine was unjust given the officer’s discriminatory conduct. Data from the [Barcelona Discrimination Observatory Report 2024](https://ajuntament.barcelona.cat/dretsidiversitat/sites/default/files/InformeDiscriminacions2024%5FOnline%5FANG.pdf?ref=barna.news) shows that linguistic discrimination complaints have increased in recent years, with the city’s Office for Non-Discrimination actively monitoring such cases. Further details are expected as the administrative process continues. --- *Sources:* [*Ara*](https://en.ara.cat/languages/it-is-very-fascist-barcelona-municipal-police-officer-is-suspended-from-pay-and-employment-due-to-linguistic-discrimination%5F1%5F5900499.html?ref=barna.news)*,* [*Ajuntament de Barcelona*](https://ajuntament.barcelona.cat/dretsidiversitat/sites/default/files/InformeDiscriminacions2024%5FOnline%5FANG.pdf?ref=barna.news)*.* --- ### Related on Barna.News - [Barcelona to Hire Lawyers for Unpaid Traffic Fines](https://barna.news/barcelona-to-hire-lawyers-for-unpaid/) - [Generalitat, State to pilot shared citizen office](https://barna.news/generalitat-state-to-pilot-shared/) - [Barcelona Draws Polling Staff for 29 Nov Vote](https://barna.news/barcelona-draws-polling-staff-for-29/) - [Parties Propose New Civil Protection Corps](https://barna.news/parties-propose-new-civil-protection/)