Are there political prisoners in Spain?
Yes. Obviously.
Jailed Catalan leaders satisfy all 5 CE criteria for "political prisoners":
-Violation of freedom of assembly/conscience
-Jail for political reasons
-Jail length/conditions
-Discriminatory jail
-Unfair/political trial
Yes. Obviously.
Jailed Catalan leaders satisfy all 5 CE criteria for "political prisoners":
-Violation of freedom of assembly/conscience
-Jail for political reasons
-Jail length/conditions
-Discriminatory jail
-Unfair/political trial
1. Does the detention violate the guarantees of the ECHR?
Yes.
Freedom of assembly: Charges include references to the leaders' "notorious capacity for collective mobilization" as a factor enabling POTENTIAL violence
Freedom of conscience: Ideology is cited as grounds for jail
Yes.
Freedom of assembly: Charges include references to the leaders' "notorious capacity for collective mobilization" as a factor enabling POTENTIAL violence
Freedom of conscience: Ideology is cited as grounds for jail
2. Has the detention been imposed for political reasons?
Yes.
It is abundantly clear that the events of 2017 did not constitute "violent uprising". But these are precisely the charges because they allow for pre-trial detention and automatic suspension of MPs' political rights.
Yes.
It is abundantly clear that the events of 2017 did not constitute "violent uprising". But these are precisely the charges because they allow for pre-trial detention and automatic suspension of MPs' political rights.
3. Is the length/condition of detention out of proportion?
Yes.
Length: The 9 Catalan political prisoners have been held w/o trial for 202-360 days.
Conditions: Junqueras was punished giving an interview from jail. Bassa was permitted only a 2 hour visit to her ill mother.
Yes.
Length: The 9 Catalan political prisoners have been held w/o trial for 202-360 days.
Conditions: Junqueras was punished giving an interview from jail. Bassa was permitted only a 2 hour visit to her ill mother.
4. Have detentions taken place in a dicrimanatory manner?
Yes. The judge's note denying bail for Forn explicitly cites "political context" as grounds for detention.
They are being held because of their roles as current leaders, not because of their past actions as citizens.
Yes. The judge's note denying bail for Forn explicitly cites "political context" as grounds for detention.
They are being held because of their roles as current leaders, not because of their past actions as citizens.
5. Are the proceedings connected with political motives of authorities?
Yes.
The charge of violent uprising allows for pre-trial detention and the suspenion of MP's political rights. This suspension has vetted a presidency and altered a pro-independence majority in Parliament.
Yes.
The charge of violent uprising allows for pre-trial detention and the suspenion of MP's political rights. This suspension has vetted a presidency and altered a pro-independence majority in Parliament.
No realistic solution to the political crisis in Catalonia can be achieved with political prisoners. No meaningful dialogue can take place when one side is in jail.
The EU's silence on the issue is devestating to its credibility as a guarantor of human rights.
@donaldtusk
The EU's silence on the issue is devestating to its credibility as a guarantor of human rights.
@donaldtusk
