- Title: French Catalans protest jailing of separatist leaders
- Date: 15th October 2019
- Summary: VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS SINGING CATALAN ANTHEM
- Embargoed: 29th October 2019 08:37
- Keywords: Spain Barcelona self-determination failed independence bid Perpignan separatist leaders Catalonia jailed political leaders Spanish Supreme Court ruling protest
- Location: PERPIGNAN, FRANCE
- City: PERPIGNAN, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Judicial Process/Court Cases/Court Decisions
- Reuters ID: LVA002B17K407
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Over 500 people gathered in the southwestern French town of Perpignan on Monday evening (October 14) to protest Spain's Supreme Court decision to jail nine Catalan separatist leaders for between nine and 13 years for their role in a failed independence bid.
Protesters waved Catalan independence flags and sang the region's anthem as speeches were given about what protesters said was "fake justice". The ruling also triggered mass protests in the Spanish region and left the future course of the dispute uncertain.
Josep Puigbert who leads the "Casa de la Generalitat", an official representation of Catalonia's autonomous government in Perpignan, said he hoped there would be an opportunity for dialogue and that the European Union would react to the decision.
The case concerned an independence referendum that was held in October 2017 despite being ruled illegal by Spanish courts, and the subsequent short-lived declaration of independence.
The longest prison term - 13 years - was imposed on the Catalan government's former deputy leader, Oriol Junqueras. The court convicted him and eight other leaders on charges of sedition and four of them of misuse of public funds.
(Production: Alexandre Minguez and Pascale Antonie) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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