Madrid cultural diversity festival ban is ideological, its organisers claim

Madrid’s city council justified banning the Kúpula se Mueve festival by claiming it might lead to public disorder and excessive noise. Photograph: Jose Luis Carrascosa/Shutterstock

Madrid city council has banned a festival celebrating cultural diversity, claiming that it may lead to public disorder and complaints about noise from residents.

The Kúpula se Mueve (Kúpula Moves) festival has been held without incident in previous years. Josias Ndanga, president of the association, insists the claims are an excuse, saying: “We’re convinced we’re being discriminated against on ideological grounds.”