Maia Sport Club Defends Hosting Far-Right Event, Sparks Freedom of Speech Debate

The Maia Sport Club has responded to the backlash it faced on social media for hosting the third congress of the far-right movement Reconquista last Saturday. In a statement, the club repudiated what it called "cowardly attacks" and accused critics of being people who "don't know how to live in society."

Justification for Hosting the Event

In a Facebook post, the Maia Sport Club justified its decision to provide space for the far-right movement, whose leader Afonso Gonçalves is under investigation by the Public Prosecutor's Office. The club emphasized that it was not motivated by political convictions but by a commitment to freedom of expression, which it described as "conquered by the 25th of April." It added that freedom of expression should not be invoked only for one's own benefit.

The club's management stated that it does not close its doors to any movement or party as long as they are legal. It's important to note that the Constitutional Court legalizes or illegalizes political parties, not movements like Reconquista.

Controversial Actions and Investigations

According to the weekly Expresso, an investigation into Reconquista leader Afonso Gonçalves was opened after he published a video of himself speaking inside a mosque against the Muslim community. He is being investigated for suspected hate crimes.

The Maia Sport Club's statement also targeted those who criticized the decision to host the event, labeling them as people who "don't know how to live in society." It condemned the "cowardly and anti-democratic attacks" from those who opposed hosting a movement that advocates for the immediate deportation of non-white immigrants and the removal of voting rights for women, based on the belief that "women are not very rational" and "men are more intelligent than women."

Aftermath and Reactions

The club noted that "everything proceeded normally" during the event, with the only abnormality being the "cowardly insults hidden on social media," both on its pages and those of various institutions in the municipality. On the Facebook page of the Maia City Council, comments such as "Shame, an institution in your municipality is allowing supremacist events to take place" emerged.

In response to the social media criticism, the Maia Sport Club announced that to avoid subjecting other municipal institutions to "cowardly attacks" and "anti-democratic attacks that create a brutal social uproar," it has decided to reject any political events in its facilities from now on. It acknowledged that this decision sets a "serious precedent" and represents a "victory for those who don't know how to live in society."

Previous Cancellation and Legal Threats

The event was initially scheduled to take place at the Auditório Francisco de Assis, part of the Colégio Luso-Francês in Porto. However, due to controversy and the stance of the parents' association, the venue's administration canceled the event, stating that it was not a "cultural event" as contracted but rather a "political event," which is expressly prohibited in that space.

The leader of Reconquista has threatened legal action over the last-minute cancellation, vowing to go "to the last consequences" against what he calls "enemies of freedom of expression."