Barcelona and Spanish soccer star Lamine Yamal is to be investigated by authorities in the European nation after he came under scrutiny for allegedly hiring people with dwarfism to perform at his 18th birthday party.
Per BBC, Yamal, who was born to an Equatoguinean mother and a Moroccan father, held a star-studded party in the Spanish town of Olivella on Sunday. But during the event that was held in a rented property, entertainers with dwarfism were allegedly booked by the teen to perform.
Yamalās actions were, however, condemned by the Association of People with Achondroplasia and other Skeletal Dysplasias in Spain (ADEE), saying that it was āunacceptable in the 21st century.ā
The Directorate General for People with Disabilities, which is part of Spainās Ministry of Social Rights, ConsumerAffairs, and 2030 Agenda, also told the news outlet that a legal complaint had been filed by the ADEE.
āTherefore, this Directorate General has asked the Prosecutorās Office to investigate to determine whether the law and, therefore, the rights of people with disabilities have been violated.ā
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The ADEE in a statement said it āpublicly denounces the hiring of people with dwarfism as part of the entertainment,ā adding that it was going to seek legal redress because using disabled individuals in such manner āperpetuates stereotypes, fuels discrimination, and undermines the image and rights.ā
āThese actions violate not only current legislation but also the fundamental ethical values of a society that seeks to be egalitarian and respectful,ā the statement added. āThe general law on the rights of persons with disabilities expressly prohibits the following practices: āShows or recreational activities in which people with disabilities or other circumstances are used to provoke mockery, ridicule, or derision from the public in a manner contrary to the respect due to human dignity are prohibitedā.ā
But an anonymous person, who claimed to be among the performers at the party, told Spanish radio station RAC1 that āno-one disrespected us, we worked in peace,ā BBC reported.
āI donāt understand why thereās so much hype. Weāre normal people, who do what we want, in an absolutely legal way,ā the person said. āWe work as entertainers. Why canāt we do it? Because of our physical condition? We know what our limit is and we will never exceed it: we are not fairground monkeys.ā
The individual also said they performed for an hour before partaking in the festivities. āWe dance, we distribute drinks, we do magic⦠there are many types of shows. Everyone had a great time,ā the person said.
A spokesperson for Barcelona told the news outlet that though the club was ānot in a position to comment on an act that falls strictly within the private sphere,ā that stance could change the moment āconcrete informationā comes in.
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