Overplayed! Spanish government demands investigation of Yamal s birthday party, suspected of insulting dwarf patients

Barcelona teenager Yamal was questioned for violating the dignity of people with disabilities because he hired dwarfs to perform at his 18th birthday party.

The Spanish Ministry of Social Rights has requested that the Office of the Prosecutor, the Ombudsman, and the Office of Anti-Hate Crimes investigate Yamal's birthday party, which may have violated the law of disability, which prohibits performances that ridicule or demean people with disabilities.

According to Director of the General Administration for Disability Affairs, Jesus Martin told Efe, the department has asked for clarification whether there are behaviors that devalue dwarf patients at Yamal's 18th birthday party. Although the law does not stipulate how to punish, such activities have been banned three years ago.

The Spanish government plans to submit an amendment approved by the Ministerial Council on July 15, intending to define performances similar to "Matador Firefighters" and any public display based on persons with disabilities as serious violations and impose a fine of 600,000 to 1 million euros.

Note: The "Matador Firefighter" performance appeared decades ago to entertain the public at a bullfighting party. Dwarfism dresses up as firefighters to chase the bulls, but does not kill them, in order to make the audience laugh.