A CHANGE to the law of 'universal justice' means crimes committed outside of Spain against Spanish nationals or residents will not be tried by the national legal system – a move that will affect cases such as the murder of Spanish TV cameraman José Couso in Iraq.
People from Spain who fall victim to crime abroad will now only have the national laws of the country where this occurred to protect them and, in some cases, these may not be compatible with those of a western nation.
And hundreds of cases currently being handled in Spanish courts will now be closed, leaving the victim with no redress in their home country.
Opposition members rejected the change in justice legislation unanimously, but the PP is a majority government and their vote alone was sufficient to see it go through.
They say Spain's government is 'bowing down' to the Chinese authorities, who have called for an end to the trials being dealt with in the former country over the repression in Tibet.
Socialist spokeswoman Soraya Rodríguez has met with the family of José Couso, who are bitterly disappointed and say they feel let down.
And Rosa Díez of Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD) has urged the PP to withdraw the new law 'if not for the good of the people, at least for their electoral interests', pointing out that China's people do not vote in national elections but families of crime victims such as José Couso do.
Other opposition members said crimes against humanity should be able to be judged 'in any corner of the universe' because they are 'universal crimes'.
Judges in Spain can only investigate genocide or human bodily harm when the charges are levied against Spanish citizens, or foreigners who live in Spain and will not be extradited.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com