The Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) has removed a large pro-independence mural from its Plaça Cívica campus. This action follows a definitive court order, complying with a complaint filed by the Spanish nationalist organisation Impulso Ciudadano in 2019. The mural featured the words “independence”, “socialism”, and “feminism”. It had been a prominent feature for generations of students at the university, located in Cerdanyola del Vallès.

University sources confirmed to ACN that university staff whitewashed the wall after students returned from the Easter break. They explained the university exhausted its appeals process against the judicial decision. The High Court of Justice of Catalonia ultimately dismissed the university’s final appeal.

Impulso Ciudadano’s initial complaint in 2019 targeted the large-scale painting. This complaint led to several judicial orders over the years. These orders specifically required the mural to be covered or erased, particularly during electoral periods.

In 2024, a court imposed precautionary measures. These measures mandated the mural’s covering pending a final sentence, which has not yet arrived. The university subsequently appealed these precautionary measures in October 2024.

Court Upholds Removal Order

However, the court rejected the appeal, effectively making the interim measures a definitive judicial decision. The court formally communicated the acceptance of the precautionary measures on 15 October 2024. The High Court of Justice of Catalonia then dismissed the university’s appeal on 25 September 2025, communicating this decision on 2 October 2025. This legal process culminated in the mural’s recent removal.

Student Union Criticises Action

The Students’ Union of the Catalan Countries (SEPC), which originally created the mural, issued a strong statement criticising its elimination. They view this action as part of a broader trend of “rising hate speech.” This speech, the union stated, “hides under the guise of political neutrality,” aiming to “depoliticise spaces” within the university environment.

The SEPC also suggested that the complaining group, Impulso Ciudadano, is closely linked to S’ha Acabat. S’ha Acabat is another Spanish nationalist organisation with a notable presence on the UAB campus. The union believes these groups actively attack “practices inherent to the student movement,” including freedom of expression.

Despite the mural’s physical disappearance, the SEPC asserted that its spirit “remains valid” among students. The union concluded its statement by vowing, “Let’s reclaim the historic mural!” This indicates ongoing student activism and potential future actions regarding the issue of political expression on campus.

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Originally published by VilaWeb Feed. Read original article.