Spain Far From Tackling 'State Repression' In Catalonia Despite Planned Pardon - MEP
Faizan Hashmi Published June 22, 2021 | 08:41 PM
The Spanish government's planned pardon of nine jailed Catalan independence leaders is a positive for the incarcerated individuals and their families, but Madrid must do more to bring decades of "state repression" in Catalonia to an end, Clare Daly, an Irish member of the European Parliament, told Sputnik on Tuesday
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd June, 2021) The Spanish government's planned pardon of nine jailed Catalan independence leaders is a positive for the incarcerated individuals and their families, but Madrid must do more to bring decades of "state repression" in Catalonia to an end, Clare Daly, an Irish member of the European Parliament, told Sputnik on Tuesday.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez traveled to Barcelona on Monday ahead of the planned announcement to pardon nine leaders of Catalonia's 2017 independence movement.
Earlier on Tuesday, Sanchez told a press conference that the Spanish government had approved the pardon, saying that the decision came "from the need to reestablish coexistence," as quoted by the El Pais newspaper.
"This is positive news for the nine Catalan prisoners and their families, but it must be considered in context. Any pardon that prohibits them from holding office is still a form of repression. There are still thousands of prosecutions ongoing, and nothing has been done to address the position of the exiled Catalan leaders," Daly, who serves on the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, said.
The Irish member of European Parliament said that the announced pardon would have to be followed by further action from Madrid to address the "state repression" directed against Catalonia.
"Mr. Sanchez sadly has a long way to go to bring Spanish state repression in Catalonia to an end," Daly remarked.
In an October 2017 referendum, which Madrid called illegal, over 90% of voters supported Catalonia's independence. The Spanish government has refused to recognize the results of the vote.
Two years ago, the Spanish Supreme Court jailed nine leading Catalan separatists for sedition. Oriol Junqueras, ex-deputy head of Catalonia's regional government, and former foreign affairs chief Raul Romeva are among those who were incarcerated.
Quim Torra, the former president of the Catalonia region, was banned last year from holding office for 18 months for refusing to remove a banner in support of jailed pro-Catalan independence leaders.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
SC orders end of encroachments in Karachi
Nazish Jahangir denies viral screenshots, calls them fake
Govt likely to hike electricity price once again
Bismah Maroof announces immediate retirement from international cricket
Malala expresses unwavering support for Gaza people
Selection committee dissolved over Pakistan women cricket team's poor performanc ..
Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz in police uniform at Chung police center
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 25 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 25 April 2024
Mired in crisis, Boeing reports another loss
Session Awarding Ceremony 2024 held at Cadet College Muzaffarabad
Austrian ski great Hirscher to make comeback under Dutch flag
More Stories From World
-
China-Bangladesh to hold joint military exercise in May
4 minutes ago -
Residents protest as Venice launches five-euro entry fee
14 minutes ago -
Portugal marks 50 years of democracy with far right on rise
34 minutes ago -
Pakistan envoy visits TomatoWorld in Netherlands
44 minutes ago -
Chinese defense minister to attend SCO meeting in Kazakhstan
44 minutes ago -
China, Pakistan should engage in greater counter-terrorism cooperation to combat hostile forces: Khu ..
44 minutes ago
-
Scottish leader scraps coalition deal with Greens
44 minutes ago -
Macron, in key speech, warns that Europe 'is mortal'
44 minutes ago -
China continues to battle flood in Pearl River basin
54 minutes ago -
Death toll from Tanzania's flash floods rises to 155: PM
1 hour ago -
Iron ore futures close higher
1 hour ago -
Two runaway army horses in 'serious condition': UK minister
1 hour ago