Assassination of Guillem Agulló

Sticker of Maulets, the anti-fascist organization to which Agulló belonged, showing the popular slogan "Guillem Agulló, ni oblit, ni perdó".

Guillem Agulló i Salvador (6 September 1974[1] in Burjassot, Valencia – 11 April 1993 in Montanejos, Castelló) was a Valencian anti-fascist and pro-Catalan independence young activist who was assassinated on 11 April 1993, by the Spanish neo-Nazi Pedro Cuevas, in Montanejos. His assassination is a famous case in the Catalan-speaking countries, where Agulló has become a symbol of anti-fascism and anti-racism. The slogan "Guillem Agulló, ni oblit, ni perdó" (Catalan for 'Guillem Agulló, not forgotten, no forgiveness') has become a popular anti-fascist slogan.

Attack

On the morning of 11 April 1993, Guillem Agulló, member of the leftist and pro-independence organization Maulets and of Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice (SHARP), travelled to Montanejos alongside some friends, when they were attacked by a group of young fascists shouting "Sieg Heil" and "Viva España"[2] and one of them stabbed him in the heart, causing his death. The attackers left singing the Spanish fascist anthem "Cara al Sol".[3] The assassination was perpetrated by the fascist group "Komando Marchalenes IV Reich", named in honor of the Nazi regime, which was composed of Pedro Cuevas (the material perpetrator of the assassination), Gerardo Mora, Juan Manuel Sánchez, José Cuñat, and Francisco Garcia.

Family members and left-wing and pro-independence organizations denounced that the motive for the crime had been political, since the young people who intervened in the murder were known for their Spanish and fascist ideology and that they also perfectly aware of the anti-fascist ideology of Agulló.[4]

Trial

The trial of the case, held in Castelló de la Plana, in 1995, was contested and caused controversy among the media. During the judicial process, the consevative press, led by the Valencian newspaper Las Provincias directed by the Blaverist María Consuelo Reyna, published several campaigns to criminalize the victim and the anti-fascist and pro-independence groups to which Guillem belonged.[5]

In a heavily criticized decision, the judge rejected accusations of political assassination, stating that it was a "fight between youngsters".[6] The only condemned person was Cuevas, who was condemned to 14 years in prison. The other members were dismissed.[7] Cuevas left prison 4 years after for "good conduct".[8]

After the trial

Mural from the youth revolutionary organization Arran (successor of Maulets) in Sarrià, Barcelona, commemorating the 25 years of the assassination of Guillem Agulló

In 2005, Cuevas was arrested during "Operación Panzer" for being a member of the neo-Nazism group Frente Antisistema (FAS).[9] The Guardia Civil found 40 bracelets with Nazi swastikas, one knife with Nazi symbols, and brass knuckles.

In 2007, Pedro Cuevas was a candidate for the municipal elections for Alianza Nacional (a far-right party) in Chiva, where he only earned 23 votes.[10]

Legacy and political significance

Guillem Agulló has become a symbol of anti-fascism and anti-racism in the Catalan Countries. Multiple homages have happened. Several demonstrations commemorate the anniversaries of his assassination.[11] Several streets have been named after him: in Vic,[12] Barcelona,[13] Valencia,[14] Vilassar de Dalt[15] and Burjassot.[16] The Corts Valencianes created the Guillem Agulló Prize to commemorate «the prominent people and initiatives in the fight against xenophobia, racism, and hate crimes».[17] In 2019 the Senate of Spain approved the creation of the Guillem Agulló fund to help the families of victims of hate crimes.[18]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Protagonistes | Memòria Nacional". www.reeixida.cat. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  2. ↑ Martí, Genar «Un neonazi d'Alacant es confessa autor de la mort d'un jove antiracista». Diari Avui, 15/04/1993.
  3. ↑ Gil, Joaquín (2013-04-07). "La lacra ultra sobre los Agulló". El País (in Spanish). ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
  4. ↑ Peiró, Empar. "«El mataren per independentista» - 21 juliol 2009". El Punt Avui (in Catalan). Retrieved 2024-02-11.
  5. ↑ Ramos, Miquel (10 April 2018). "25 años del asesinato neonazi de Guillem Agulló". El Salto. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
  6. ↑ "El nazi que mató al joven antifascista valenciano Guillem Agulló también reclama sus armas de Pánzer". Público.es. 30 September 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  7. ↑ "Sólo un condenado por la muerte del joven Guillem Agulló". El País (in Spanish). 1996-05-21. ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
  8. ↑ "À Punt - El pare de Guillem Agulló denuncia amenaces continuades en el 25è aniversari del seu assassinat". 2018-04-12. Archived from the original on 2018-04-12. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
  9. ↑ Lucas Marco (2023-04-12). "Tres décadas del asesinato del antifascista Guillem Agulló a manos de un neonazi que apenas cumplió cuatro años de prisión". elDiario.es.
  10. ↑ "Crítiques per la presència de l'assassí de Guillem Agulló a les eleccions". VilaWeb. 17 May 2007. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  11. ↑ "Una manifestació recorre Burjassot en homenatge a Guillem Agulló". VilaWeb (in Catalan). Retrieved 2024-02-11.
  12. ↑ Osona.com. "PxC també vota a favor de dedicar el nom d'un carrer de Vic a Guillem Agulló". www.naciodigital.cat (in Catalan). Retrieved 2024-02-11.
  13. ↑ NacióDigital. "Barcelona aprova dedicar un carrer a Guillem Agulló amb l'únic refús del PP". www.naciodigital.cat (in Catalan). Retrieved 2024-02-11.
  14. ↑ "Guillem Agulló tendrá un paseo en los Jardines de Viveros de València". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 2017-05-16. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
  15. ↑ "La Clau - Revista gratuïta del Maresme". La Clau - Revista gratuïta del Maresme (in Catalan). Retrieved 2024-02-11.
  16. ↑ "Una manifestació recorre Burjassot en homenatge a Guillem Agulló". VilaWeb (in Catalan). Retrieved 2024-02-11.
  17. ↑ "El primer Premi Guillem Agulló reconoce al activista Daniel Sanjuan Guaita". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 2017-04-20. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
  18. ↑ "El primer Premi Guillem Agulló reconoce al activista Daniel Sanjuan Guaita". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 2017-04-20. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
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