A video has gone viral of a young woman in the Canary Islands who pulled out a replica AK-47 assault rifle to scare of a man who was allegedly masturbating while watching her and her friend on a beach in the Maspalomas dunes of Gran Canaria.
In the video shared by the woman, who goes by Angie on social media, which has since been removed, she can be seen telling the man to stop and leave before pulling the pink leopard-print airsoft gun from her backpack and pointing it at him.
Angie explained that she had the replica rifle with her because she needed to get it repaired after spending the day at the beach. She also claimed that the man had been following them.
The unusual incident has sparked significant online discussion. Angie expressed her frustration on social media, highlighting the increasing discomfort women face at beaches due to such inappropriate behaviour. "You can't go to the beach peacefully anymore without tourists doing such things in the bushes," she tweeted.
Legal Implications of Public Masturbation
The legal consequences for public masturbation in Spain depend on the context. If the act is performed in front of “minors or legally incapacitated individuals”, it is classified as a crime of exhibitionism and sexual provocation, carrying a prison sentence of six months to one year and a fine.
However, if the act occurs in front of adults with full legal capacity, it is considered a minor infraction under the Citizen Security Law, which includes performing obscene acts that do not constitute a criminal offence. The administrative penalty for such acts range from 100 to 600 euros.
