Executive Summary
- Julio Iglesias denies allegations of sexual harassment and human trafficking filed by two former employees.
- The complaint was lodged with Spain’s Public Prosecutor’s Office of the National Court.
- Accusers allege forced labor, 16-hour workdays, and confinement at properties in the Dominican Republic and Bahamas.
- Advocacy groups Women’s Link Worldwide and Amnesty International Spain are supporting the complainants.
Spanish singer Julio Iglesias has publicly denied allegations of sexual harassment and human trafficking filed against him by two former domestic staff members. The complaint, lodged with Spain’s Public Prosecutor’s Office of the National Court, accuses the 82-year-old artist of subjecting the women to abusive working conditions at his residences in the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas.
According to a press release issued by the advocacy group Women’s Link Worldwide, the complainants, identified by the pseudonyms Rebeca and Laura, allege the abuse occurred between January and October 2021. The filing claims Iglesias assaulted and sexually harassed the women, monitored their personal communications, prohibited them from leaving the premises, and enforced 16-hour workdays without contracts or scheduled time off.
In a statement addressing the accusations, Iglesias described the claims as “absolutely false” and expressed deep regret. “I deny having abused, coerced, or disrespected any woman,” Iglesias wrote. He characterized the allegations as malicious and stated his intent to defend his dignity against what he termed a “serious injustice.”
The women formally presented their allegations to prosecutors on January 5, seeking an investigation into “human trafficking for the purpose of forced labor and servitude” as well as crimes against sexual freedom. Amnesty International Spain has publicly supported the complainants, with Deputy Director Ana Rebollar issuing a statement citing the extreme vulnerability often faced by domestic workers in such environments.
International Legal Complexities
This case presents significant jurisdictional challenges, as the alleged conduct occurred in the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas, while the complaint was filed within the Spanish legal system. The involvement of international human rights organizations suggests a strategy to elevate the proceedings beyond a standard employment dispute into a broader human rights inquiry. As Spanish prosecutors evaluate the merits of the complaint to determine if a formal investigation will proceed, it is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
