According to EFE, Spain’s Ministry for Social Rights has asked for an investigation into potential violations of disability rules at Barcelona star Lamine Yamal’s 18th birthday celebration after it was claimed that people with dwarfism were employed as entertainment.
The Ministry requests that the Office for Combating Hate Crimes, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and the Spanish Ombudsman look into whether the party violated any laws that forbid performances that make fun of or disparage individuals with disabilities.
Yamal threw a private party outside of Barcelona on Saturday to commemorate his 18th birthday, which was July 13. Despite the fact that attendees were not permitted to record on their phones during the event, footage of individuals with dwarfism seemingly arriving at the party venue became popular on social media.
The Spanish Association for People with Achondroplasia and Other Skeletal Dysplasias with Dwarfism (ADEE) denounced “the hiring of individuals with dwarfism as entertainers” on Sunday after the pictures surfaced.
Spanish government wants probe into Lamine Yamal party
ADEE claims in a statement that Yamal’s actions were intolerable because they undermine the image and rights of those with achondroplasia or other skeletal dysplasia, as well as all people with disabilities, and perpetuate stereotypes and fuel discrimination.
The organization wants to protect the dignity of people with disabilities, which is why it has decided to take Yamal to court.
According to ADEE, the issue is societal rather than unique to the Barcelona player. According to the organization, which is a part of the Confederation of People with Physical and Organic Disabilities (COCEMFE) in Spain, they are trying to end the practice of objectifying people who have dwarfism.
People with dwarfism are still being used as entertainment at private parties in the twenty-first century, and it’s even more serious when these incidents involve public figures like Lamine Yamal, stated Carolina Puente, president of ADEE.
She went on to say that no one should ever find amusement in the rights and dignity of our community. Yamal and his team have not commented on the ADEE escalations.
