Barcelona sauna condemns exclusion of Jewish women and drops event organisers

A Barcelona sauna at the centre of allegations that two Jewish women were denied entry over a Star of David necklace has condemned those involved, saying it condemns discrimination and will no longer host their events.

Sauna Thermas issued a statement on Sunday following widespread criticism over an incident at a private event held at the venue on 29 May.

The controversy erupted after footage circulated online, appearing to show two American Jewish women being questioned about Zionism after staff noticed a Star of David necklace. The women were subsequently refused entry, prompting outrage from Jewish organisations and reports that legal action is being explored.

In its statement, Sauna Thermas said it wished to make clear that it “completely dissociates itself from the actions and comments of the organisers of that event”.

The venue added that it “strongly condemn(s) the exclusion of any individual on the basis of symbols representing their identity, culture, or religion, such as the Star of David.”

It also stressed that political disagreements should never justify discrimination, saying: “Geopolitical conflicts can never serve as a justification for hatred, censorship, or discrimination against individuals in a social or recreational environment.”

The statement stopped short of directly addressing who was responsible for refusing entry to the women, but said decisions taken by private event organisers had been contrary to the venue’s values.

“Our position is clear: we do not take sides in international political conflicts, and we condemn any decisions made by private event organisers that are contrary to our philosophy and values,” management said.

As part of what it described as measures to prevent a repeat of the incident, Sauna Thermas announced that the collective behind the event, Bolleras al Vapor, would no longer be permitted to hold events at the venue.

“This venue was built on the principle that no belief, nationality, or identity should ever be censored,” the statement said. “Therefore, we have decided that the collective Bolleras al Vapor will no longer hold events at our premises.”

The venue added that it would review future external bookings to ensure organisers’ values align with its commitment to “respect, diversity, and inclusion”.

The original incident was captured on video and widely shared on social media. In footage previously reported by Jewish News, a woman appearing to be a member of staff can be heard asking one of the visitors: “Are you a Zionist person?” Another says: “The question is not Jewish, it is Zionist.”

The women later alleged they were excluded because of their Jewish identity and subsequently filed a police complaint.

Jewish advocacy groups have argued that the incident demonstrates how hostility towards Zionism can spill over into discrimination against Jews, particularly when Jewish symbols or identity become the basis for questioning access to public spaces.

No arrests have been announced, and Spanish police have not publicly commented on any ongoing investigation.