SPAIN’S Supreme Court has come under fire from Basque independence activists after deciding to re-try Arnaldo Otegi and four others whose previous trial in 2011 was deemed by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to have breached their right to a fair trial. Two years ago, the ECHR ruled they had been found guilty of terrorism offences – allegedly being members of ETA – after an “unjust” trial. However, they were already free, having served their sentences which had been reduced by the Supreme Court. Rafa Diez, Sonia Jacinto, Miren Zabaleta, Arkaitz Rodríguez and Otegi were each sentenced to 10 years in prison – later reduced to six-and-a-half.
Otegi cree que serán de nuevo condenados si se repite el juicio elcorreo.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from elcorreo.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Spanish Government’s bad faith undermines Basque Peace initiatives
• Caoihmín Mac Giolla Mhín of the Belfast Basque Solidarity Committee, Gerry Kelly MLA and Michael Culbert show support for Basque political prisoners at the annual Christmas postcard campaign
» Peadar Whelan
Sinn Féin’s National Chairperson Declan Kearney has criticised the decision of the Spanish Supreme Court to reopen the case against senior members of the Basque Political leadership and has accused the Spanish state of attempting to criminalise those who are driving the Basque Peace Process.
Kearney’s remarks come just hours after Sinn Féin’s Gerry Kelly spoke at a solidarity event in support of Basque Political Prisoners on Wednesday 16 December.