Spanish Socialist Candidate Rebuffs Provocative Question About Moroccan King

Aya Ben Hamama, 19, presents herself on her social networks as a civil engineering student and member of the Socialist Youth of Parla, a traditional stronghold of the party and where there is a strong Moroccan community. In an online question-and-answer session, journalist Tómas Bárbulo, author of "The Forbidden History of the Spanish Sahara (Peninsula)", asked her on Twitter what she thinks of King Mohammed VI.

"Go fuck yourself [sic] Tomas. Good evening," reacted the PSOE candidate in Parla. "Thank you. It is clear that you are an excellent candidate for the PSOE in Parla. And a democrat and, above all, very educated. Kind regards," the journalist replied to her.

Aya Ben Hamama has denounced being the target of a racist campaign in recent days. "You are a candidate and you are in the spotlight, so please don’t play the victim. There is no hatred in the question that many people ask you and your obligation to the voters is to answer it," Bárbulo reproached her, supported by several Internet users close to the Polisario.

Aya’s candidacy has triggered "many racist comments and possible hate crimes, from the cowardly and organized right-wing networks," the Madrid Socialist Youth electoral committee said in a statement posted on Twitter, firmly condemning "these abusive and intimidating comments."