Graffiti artists protest over jailed Spanish rapper

An urban artist works on a graffiti that reads "Shame" in support of Catalan rapper Pablo Hasel and protests against censorship in Barcelona, Spain February 21, 2021. REUTERS/Nacho Doce

BARCELONA (Reuters) - A colourful mural showing arrows through the heads of former Spanish king Juan Carlos and the late dictator General Francisco Franco was among images that graffiti artists painted on walls in Barcelona to protest on Sunday the jailing of a rapper for glorifying terrorism and insulting the monarchy in his songs.

The nine-month sentence imposed on Pablo Hasel, who is known for his fiercely anti-establishment raps, has sparked a debate over freedom of expression in Spain and demonstrations which descended, at times, into violence.