Pro-independence leaders on trial

On the first day of the Supreme Court trial of the twelve Catalan pro-independence leaders, their defence teams criticised a flagrant and constant violation of their clients’ fundamental rights. Catalan Justice Minister Ester Capella, who, together with President Quim Torra, Territory Minister Damià Calvet and the families of the accused accompanied them in the chamber, remarked on the tired but firm demeanours of the nine political prisoners.

The day started chaotically. Despite queuing from eight a.m., journalists were unable to enter the court until ten, just half an hour before the trial began. Some 250 journalists were accredited, fifty from international media, according to the court.

In yesterday’s session, the nine defence lawyers demanded evidence that the Supreme Court had denied them, reiterating that this is “a trial against democracy” and that this criminal trial violates many of the defendants’ fundamental rights. Andreu van den Eynde, defence lawyer for former Catalan Vice-president Oriol Junqueras and former Foreign Minister, Raül Romeva, reminded the court that it has the power to release the prisoners “at any time”, asking the seven judges to “have the courage to do so” in order to balance and redress “the restrictions on almost all fundamental rights.” The lawyer for the ERC leaders insisted that the prosecutor’s office “has investigated a legitimate and peaceful political project,” and asked the court to return the issue to the political domain, “as was done by the Supreme Court of Canada”.

Benet Salellas - lawyer for Òmnium President Jordi Cuixart - cited recent sentences on freedom of expression by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in reference to his client’s case.