She has expressed opinions on policy including her criticism of the military intervention in Afghanistan, where Spanish troops were taking part at the time, her defence of religious education in schools, and her conviction that gender violence publicity will encourage new cases to occur. Her opinions were subjected to lively criticism by LGBT associations and Spanish intellectuals due to her criticism of homosexual activity, a violation of human rights and dignity as expressed by the United Nations. Also responding were Spanish republican political parties like IU and ERC. The governing PSOE decided to keep silent, while the conservative opposition PP also did so, after initial criticism of the Queen from one of its representatives.