Conviction of Catalan separatist leaders puts democratic rights at risk - defense lawyers

Record ID: 1436640

  • Title: Conviction of Catalan separatist leaders puts democratic rights at risk - defense lawyers
  • Date: 14th October 2019
  • Summary: SANT JOAN DE VILATORRADA, SPAIN (OCTOBER 14, 2019) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR LLEDONERS PRISON WHERE SEVEN CONVICTED CATALAN SEPARATIST LEADERS ARE HELD HOT AIR BALLOON HOVERING OVER PRISON VARIOUS OF SUPPORTERS OF CONVICTED LEADERS PROTESTING OUTSIDE PRISON (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEFENSE LAWYER FOR JORDI CUIXART, BENET SALELLAS, SAYING: "The main question of this trial was the right of self-determination. It was about how we can exercise our rights and our public freedoms and that's the main question that the sentence talks about in a position that we think is not the position our democracy needs because the way and the perspective of the judge is against self-determination, against the exercise of the freedom of speech, of pacific assembly, but we think we must continue fighting (for) the rights of self-determination of the Catalan people so that all the rights of the democratic people in the Spanish state who now is in danger because of this sentence." POLICE VAN IN PRISON CAR PARK JORDI PINA, DEFENSE LAWYER FOR FORMER CATALAN REGIONAL GOVERNMENT MEMBERS JORDI TURULL AND JOSEP RULL AND FORMER CATALAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY LEADER JORDI SÀNCHEZ, WALKING TOWARDS MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) DEFENSE LAWYER FOR FORMER CATALAN REGIONAL GOVERNMENT MEMBERS JORDI TURULL AND JOSEP RULL AND FORMER CATALAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY LEADER JORDI SANCHEZ, JORDI PINA, SAYING: "They (defendants), looking at the ruling, ratify what they have said throughout this time, that this is a political trial. They consider the fulfilment of this political trial is this ruling, a political ruling, this has not been a criminal proceeding. Whether you like it or not, this is a dangerous ruling because it puts at risk constitutional rights like the right of assembly and protest and that of freedom of expression of citizens." POLICE CAR POLICE STANDING BY PRISON GATE MADRID, SPAIN (OCTOBER 14, 2019) (REUTERS) LEADER OF THE FAR-RIGHT VOX PARTY SANTIAGO ABASCAL AND VOX SECRETARY GENERAL JAVIER ORTEGA SMITH WHO ALSO SERVED AS A PROSECUTION LAWYER FOR THE PUBLIC PROSECUTION BROUGHT FORWARD BY VOX AGAINST THE CATALAN SEPARATIST LEADERS ABASCAL AND ORTEGA SMITH TAKING THEIR PLACES NEAR MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VOX SECRETARY GENERAL AND LAWYER FOR THE PUBLIC PROSECUTION, JAVIER ORTEGA SMITH, SAYING: "We qualify this as a severe judicial error in relation to the evaluation and interpretation of very grave evidence of rebellion that is clearly proven." ABASCAL AND ORTEGA SMITH WITH MEDIA EXTERIOR OF SUPREME COURT
  • Embargoed: 28th October 2019 14:14
  • Keywords: Supreme Court ruling on Catalan jailed leaders Catalonia ruling Catalonia independence lawyers
  • Location: SANT JOAN DE VILATORRADA AND MADRID, SPAIN
  • City: SANT JOAN DE VILATORRADA AND MADRID, SPAIN
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Judicial Process/Court Cases/Court Decisions
  • Reuters ID: LVA001B12L64N
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The lawyers of convicted Catalan separatist leaders said on Monday (October 14) that their clients believed they had a political trial and the ruling by seven Supreme Court magistrates a dangerous precedent that puts basic democratic rights and freedoms in Spain at risk.
    Spain's Supreme Court sentenced nine Catalan separatist leaders to between nine and 13 years in prison for sedition over their role in a failed independence bid, triggering protests across the region.
    Three other defendants, who were also on trial for their involvement in the October 2017 referendum held in spite of a ban and a short-lived independence declaration, were found guilty only of disobedience and not sentenced to prison.
    All defendants were acquitted of the gravest charge, rebellion, but leading separatists were quick to condemn the court's decision and the jailed men sent out messages of defiance, urging people to take to the streets.
    However, the far-right party Vox which were co-accuser in the trial and part of the public prosecution said the ruling did not go far enough and ignored evidence that the defendants had engaged in rebellion.
    Under the Spanish legal system, anyone can become a co-accuser - also known as a people's prosecutor - and take part in court proceedings in such trials.
    The Vox party, a newcomer to the Spanish political scene, has made use of this peculiarity to take on a role in the high-profile televised trial of the Catalan separatist leaders over their region's failed independence bid in 2017.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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