Spanish mayor investigated for 'religious harassment' after imitating pope

The mayor of Soria is in hot water with locals over the controversial display (Image: The Olive Press)

The mayor of a Spanish city has been summoned to court after he was accused of mocking the Pope with a wet toilet brush.

The mayor of Soria, a city in north-central Spain, has landed himself in hot water after apparently mocking the Christian faith by travelling in a “popemobile” and “blessing” passersby with a wet toilet brush.

Carlos Martinez, who was elected leader of the centre-left Socialist Party of Castile and Leon this month, will appear before court on February 5 for the display, which sparked outrage during a festival in the Tardelcuende municipality last August.

Members of the Spanish Christian Lawyers Foundation (CLF) have accused Mr Martinez of committing a crime of mockery under article 52 of the Criminal Code, which relates to “derision or harassment of religious feelings”.

The offence could result in up to 12 months behind bars for Mr Martinez, who is described in court documents as having “pretended to be the Pope, placing himself on top of a car with a Vatican flag”.

“He used a toilet brush, and after having immersed it in a container, he waved it several times towards those present, simulating the gesture of spreading holy water among the faithful,” it added.

Footage shows the mayor waving a toilet brush during the festival in August (Image: The Olive Press)

The mayor has insisted it was not his intention to mock the Christian religion and apologised for what he described as a “controversial” and “silly mistake”.

During the bizarre outing, which saw Mr Martinez travel in a mocked-up “popemobile” mounted on top of a car, he was flanked by others dressed as the Vatican’s Swiss Guard alongside what appeared to be fake bishops, cardinals and altar boys.

He is quoted in expat newspaper The Olive Press as responding: “We need to respect the course of justice” and expressing a willingness to pay the £83.91 (€100) administration fee.

However, Polonia Castellanos, president of the CLF, has alleged that he “attacked a large swathe of his citizens, the catholics”.

“Politicians should respect everyone. The mayor of Soria should resign and step aside from politics," he added.

In an initial complaint filed to the Court of Instruction of Sora, Mr Castellanos said: “This type of action cannot go unpunished. A public representative cannot mock the beliefs of [his] citizens.”