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.
Yamal’s actions were, however, condemned by the Association of People with Achondroplasia and other Skeletal Dysplasias in Spain (ADEE), saying that it was “unacceptable in the 21st century.”
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The Directorate General for People with Disabilities, which is part of Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights, ConsumerAffairs, and 2030 Agenda, also told the news outlet that a legal complaint had been filed by the ADEE.
“Therefore, this Directorate General has asked the Prosecutor’s Office to investigate to determine whether the law and, therefore, the rights of people with disabilities have been violated.”
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The ADEE in a statement said it “publicly denounces the hiring of people with dwarfism as part of the entertainment,” adding that it was going to seek legal redress because using disabled individuals in such manner “perpetuates stereotypes, fuels discrimination, and undermines the image and rights.”
“These actions violate not only current legislation but also the fundamental ethical values of a society that seeks to be egalitarian and respectful,” the statement added. “The general law on the rights of persons with disabilities expressly prohibits the following practices: ‘Shows 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 prohibited’.”
But an anonymous person, who claimed to be among the performers at the party, told Spanish radio station RAC1 that “no-one disrespected us, we worked in peace,” BBC reported.
“I don’t understand why there’s so much hype. We’re normal people, who do what we want, in an absolutely legal way,” the person said. “We work as entertainers. Why can’t 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.”
The individual also said they performed for an hour before partaking in the festivities. “We dance, we distribute drinks, we do magic… there are many types of shows. Everyone had a great time,” the person said.
A spokesperson for Barcelona told the news outlet that though the club was “not in a position to comment on an act that falls strictly within the private sphere,” that stance could change the moment “concrete information” comes in.
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