The Removal of the Benedictine Monks from the Valley of the Fallen

Case information
Incident date
Country
Spain
Place
Madrid
Categories
  • Government Restrictions
Attack Against
  • Faith
Perpetrator / Motive Indicators
  • Political
  • Radical Left
Hate Crime & Violent Incidents
  • Other (text field)
  • Intolerance towards Religious Symbols
Religious Freedom / Discrimination
  • Censorship or Removal of Public Christian Symbols
Place of Incident
  • Christian Building
Bias Indicators
  • Pattern or Frequency of Attacks
Reported to Police
  • No
Response of Local Authorities
  • Unknown
Image credit: Website of the Valley of the Fallen

A new law, promoted by José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, intends to start the exhumations of the victims of the Civil War. The regulations also included a "re-signification" of the Valley of the Fallen, turning it into a civil cemetery. This will lead to the extinguish and the expel of the Order of Benedictine Monks, who run the Valley since 1957. In September, the law has been passed; the Basilica and the Cross will remain on the Valley, but the Benedictine Monks will be expelled.

UPDATE: The national court rejects the appeal that sought to stop the exhumations. The appeal was presented by the granddaughter of one of the women buried in the basilica.

Sources