Madrid City Council Offers Police Protection to Rita Maestre After Address Published on Prostitution Sites
Madrid, March 6 – The Madrid City Council yesterday offered police protection to Rita Maestre, spokesperson for Más Madrid in the Consistory, after her private address appeared published in anonymous advertisements on internet pages offering sexual services. According to the municipal leader, this situation has led to men showing up at her home for the past 10 months, believing that a person with her name in a prostitution situation lives there.
Inma Sanz, the Deputy Mayor and Delegate for Security and Emergencies, addressed the incident at a press conference following the municipal Government Board meeting. She conveyed a message of “total, absolute condemnation and repulsion” for what happened and assured that the City Council would provide the municipal spokesperson “all the protection she needs.”
“Of course, she has all the support, all the backing, and all the help from the municipal government team and, of course, within the scope of the protection of the Madrid Municipal Police to increase that protection if necessary,” Sanz affirmed.
The Deputy Mayor also emphasized that, for security reasons, she would not offer details on the specific measures that might be adopted, but insisted that all necessary resources would be made available to Maestre. “She will be given all the protection she needs, and if it is necessary to increase it, it will be increased,” she added.
Maestre Links Incident to Political Harassment
The spokesperson for Más Madrid reported the facts to the Police and also made them public through a video disseminated on her X social media account. In that recording, she explained that someone has been using her private address to publish sexual advertisements on the internet without her consent.
The municipal leader linked what happened to her status as a woman and her political activity. “This would not happen to me if I were not a woman, if I were not left-wing, and if I were not a feminist,” she stated, while describing the incident as “political harassment for being a woman, for having the ideas I have, for being a visible politician.”
Background of the Incident
This distressing situation has been ongoing for approximately 10 months, causing significant distress to Ms. Maestre. The publication of her private address on such platforms is a serious breach of privacy and a form of harassment that the City Council is taking very seriously.
City Council’s Commitment to Safety
The City Council’s swift response underscores its commitment to protecting its elected officials and ensuring their safety, particularly in cases of harassment and threats. The provision of police protection aims to deter further incidents and to ensure that Ms. Maestre can continue her public duties without fear.
Wider Implications and Public Reaction
This incident has sparked a wider discussion about online harassment, privacy, and the challenges faced by women in politics. Many public figures and organizations have expressed their solidarity with Rita Maestre and condemned the actions of those responsible for publishing her personal information.
The authorities are investigating the source of the anonymous advertisements and are working to have them removed from the internet. The goal is to identify and hold accountable those who perpetrated this act of harassment.
The City Council reiterates its zero-tolerance policy towards any form of harassment or intimidation, especially when it targets individuals based on their gender or political beliefs. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for robust measures to protect individuals from online abuse and to uphold their right to privacy and safety.
Source: elmundo.es
