Trial of Catalan separatist leaders in Madrid

Twelve Catalan separatist leaders have appeared at the supreme court in Madrid facing charges including rebellion and sedition. If convicted, some of them would be going to prison for 25 years.

The semi-autonomous region of Catalonia held an independence referendum on 1 October 2017, and declared its independence from Spain weeks later. But the vote was declared illegal by Spanish authorities and the national government imposed direct rule.

Nine of the defendants have spent months in pre-trial detention, and arrived at the court on Tuesday morning under the guard. The remaining three had been free on bail. “It’s the most important trial we have had in democracy”, said the Supreme Court president Carlos Lesmes to the reporters.

The trial begins almost a year and a half after the failed independence bid – that remains controversial. Thousands gathered in a pro-unity demonstration against Catalan independence in Madrid on Sunday.

Sunaya Paison
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