Protests over jailed rapper Pablo Hasel spread throughout Spain

Musician's jailing for glorifying terrorism has ignited civil unrest

A man gestures and shouts during a fourth night of protests in support of Catalan rapper Pablo Hasel. Reuters

Police charged protesters who threw stones and bottles at officers and neighbours in Spanish cities on Friday in the fourth night of clashes after a rapper was jailed for glorifying terrorism and insulting royalty in his songs.

The nine-month sentence of Pablo Hasel, known for his fiercely anti-establishment raps, has galvanised a debate over freedom of expression in Spain, prompting the government to announce it would make speech laws less restrictive and sparking protests that, at times, turned violent.

Protesters threw projectiles at police and at neighbours who condemned them for the disturbances. Two banks and businesses were attacked in Barcelona. Police charged protesters in the northern Catalan city of Girona.

This gallery depicts the tumult.

Demonstrators in Barcelona hold a banner during a protest in support of Catalan rapper Pablo Hasel, after he was given a jail sentence on charges of glorifying terrorism and insulting royalty in his songs,. Reuters

Protests against the refusenik rapper's incarceration have entered their fourth day. Reuters

TOPSHOT - Protesters ignite smoke grenades during a student demonstration. AFP

Protesters push a trash container during clashes with Catalan regional police forces. AFP

A protester sets fire to trash containers during clashes with Catalan regional police forces. AFP

A protester breaks the glass of a bank branch's door during clashes with Catalan regional police forces. AFP

Flames erupt as the protests barrel on into the night. EPA

A protester gestures in front of trash containers in flames during clashes with Catalan regional police forces. AFP

A firefighter puts out a fire on a dumpster set ablaze during the febrile protests. EPA

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the violence which has marked protests over the past three nights.

"Democracy protects freedom of speech, including the expression of the most awful, absurd thoughts, but democracy never ever protects violence," he told an event, promising to "widen and improve freedom of speech."

During the last three nights police fired tear gas and foam bullets at demonstrators who set fire to trash containers and motorcycles and looted stores. There were also clashes in the capital Madrid and other cities.

Officials said three people were arrested in Barcelona on Friday. Around 60 people have been arrested across Catalonia, where Barcelona earlier this week. One woman lost an eye during clashes in Barcelona, triggering calls from politicians to investigate police tactics.

Human rights group Amnesty International called for legal changes in Spain, saying that anti-terrorism and gagging laws also unfairly limited people's right to demonstrate their disapproval in the streets.

"Spain is a country with freedom of expression, of course, but there are threats to that freedom," Amnesty head for Spain, Esteban Beltran, told Reuters.