Spanish Prosecutors Clear Julio Iglesias of Sex Assault Allegations

Sun Feb 01 2026 12:57:56 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Julio Iglesias faced allegations of sexual assault from former employees, but Spanish prosecutors have dismissed the case due to jurisdiction issues, stating the crimes occurred outside Spain.

Spanish prosecutors have dismissed allegations of sexual harassment against singer Julio Iglesias, stating they lacked jurisdiction to investigate complaints made by two former employees regarding incidents that allegedly took place in the Bahamas and Dominican Republic. The women claimed Iglesias created a coercive environment during their employment, but prosecutors noted that they were not Spanish citizens and therefore, the legal principle of universal jurisdiction could not apply. Iglesias firmly denies the allegations, calling them 'absolutely false.'

Spanish prosecutors have dropped an investigation into complaints of sexual abuse against the singer Julio Iglesias.

They ruled that Spanish courts had no jurisdiction and were therefore not competent to investigate crimes committed abroad involving complainants who were not Spanish citizens or residents and who had never traveled to Spain with the star.

Two female former employees had alleged that the 82-year-old Spanish superstar 'normalized abuse' in a coercive, threatening, and violent environment while they were working at his properties in the Bahamas and Dominican Republic in 2021.

Iglesias has vigorously denied the allegations, which were first reported last week.

On 5 January, the women filed a legal complaint for sexual assault and human trafficking with the national court, which investigates crimes allegedly committed beyond Spain's borders.

Advocacy groups Women's Link Worldwide and Amnesty International stated the acts alleged in the complaint could be considered 'a crime of human trafficking for the purpose of forced labor' and 'crimes against sexual freedom'.

Women's Link Worldwide described the complainants as young Latin American women 'in vulnerable situations who were heavily dependent on their wages due to their economic and social conditions'.

It said the complaint was submitted in Spain because the country has legislation to protect women from gender-based violence and trafficking.

Prosecutors said the fact that the complainants were not Spanish citizens or residents meant that the legal principle of universal jurisdiction could not be applied. They also argued that the states where the alleged crimes took place - the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas - had 'clear and effective competence' to investigate the allegations themselves.

Iglesias responded to the accusations with a post on Instagram, stating: 'I deny having abused, coerced, or disrespected any woman. These accusations are absolutely false and deeply sadden me.'

Several friends of the singer have also fiercely denied that he could be capable of such behavior.

Iglesias is one of the most successful Latin artists of all time, having sold more than 300 million records in a career spanning decades. He is also the father of fellow music superstar Enrique Iglesias.

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