Spain: Jesus poster in Seville is said to be a sexualized ‘hate crime’. The Federal Council outlines closer cooperation with NATO

A debate has broken out over a Jesus poster in Spain. The motif promoting this year’s Holy Week in Seville was presented last weekend. The so-called Semana Santa celebrations in Seville are considered the most important and best-known Holy Week festivities in all of Spain.

The poster shows a post-resurrection Jesus painted by local artist Salustiano García. The Son of God looks at the viewer seriously but kindly. With his left hand he points to his wound on his chest; the figure is half-naked. Jesus has a beard and long hair, and overall the image doesn’t seem all that unusual compared to conventional depictions of Jesus.

Jesus is said to be ‘effeminate and sexualized’

It still causes a stir. The Spanish Social Policy Institute (IPSE), which sees itself as a “non-profit civil institution”, is particularly enthusiastic. The institute’s purpose is to advocate for families and “the right to life,” as well as “the unity of Spain and religious freedom.”

Institute president Pablo Hertfelder García-Conde was furious that the Jesus on the poster represented “a possible hate crime and an attack on religious feelings.”

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A wave of anger and a signature campaign followed. Thousands have so far called for the Seville Holy Week poster to be scrapped. “We demand its immediate withdrawal,” the petition says. Commentators complain about what they see as the ‘obscene’, ‘blasphemous’ and ‘feminine’ portrayal of Jesus, which is an ‘insult to Christians’.

On the other hand, many people just shake their heads and criticize the ultra-conservative Social Policy Institute, which has already gone so far as to compare the right to abortion to the crimes of the National Socialists. The institute claimed that abortions were “the greatest holocaust in human history.”

“New world record for memes”

Dozens of users have raised the dispute on the internet. Writer Salvador Gutiérrez Solís predicted “a new world record for memes.” In fact, there are already numerous joke images circulating about the Jesus poster. Meanwhile, Sevillian artist Salustiano García has defended his painting against ultra-conservative critics: if someone sees something dirty in his painting, it is “his own inner dirt that he projects onto the photo.”

Others pointed out that many more images of Jesus should fall victim to the norms of the ultraconservatives. Half of the art history of the Christian West would then have to be censored.

Moderate conservatives, who have also joined the debate, see it that way too. The image of Jesus is a respectful representation, wrote journalist and university lecturer Pepe Santos, for example, who describes himself as traditional – but he is ‘open enough to admit that the poster is a good work of art. Daring, yes, but also striking, surprising and unique.”

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