Spanish Court Hands 9 to 13 Year Prison Sentences to 9 Catalan Separatists

Rabat – A Spanish court handed verdicts ranging between nine to 13 years in prison to nine separatists, who led the bid for Catalonia’s independence in 2017.

Spain witnessed rising tensions in 2017 after Catalonia’s ousted president  Carles Puigdemont led an “independence” campaign.

After Catalonia styled itself as an independent state, the Spanish government stripped the autonomous region of its self-proclaimed statehood, describing the region’s independence as illegal.

Puigdemont, however, resisted Spain’s move, calling on his Catalan supporters to resist the decision.

Puidgemont’s vice president Oriol Jungueras received a sentence of 13 years in prison. Jungueras became the main defendant in the case after Puigdemont fled Spain to Brussels to avoid prosecution.

Jungueras was sentenced by the Spanish Supreme Court on charges of “sedition” and “misuse of public funds.” 

The court also banned Jungueras from “holding public office for 13 years,” the Guardian reported.

Former Catalan foreign minister Raul Romeva received a sentence of 12 years for the same offenses.

Former regional government spokesman Jordi Turull and former labor minister Dolores Bassa also received a sentence of 12 years in prison.

The former speaker of the Catalan parliament Carme Forcadell was sentenced to 11  and a half years in prison.

Former Catalan interior minister Joaquim Form and former territorial minister Josepp Rull both received prison terms of 10 years and six months.

Pro-independence activists Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sanchez will serve nine-years behind bars. 

Puidgemont, who is still on the run to avoid prosecution, criticized the court’s sentences.

Puidgemont called for immediate action in response to the sentences. In a Twitter post, he called on his supporters to rise up in support of the jailed politicians. 

“It is time to react … for the future of our sons and daughters. For democracy. For Europe. For Catalonia,” he said.