sedition

Authority representing Spanish government in trial of pro-independence officials rules out rebellion charge but demands they serve 7 to 12 years behind bars

Solidarity from members of the public included free taxi rides and hotel rooms, legal help and giving water to police officers

Former Mossos chief, Josep Lluís Trapero, and three other high-ranking officials see appeals rejected by Spain’s National Court

Judge proposes alternative criminal charges to German court

German prosecutor, meanwhile, confirms case for Puigdemont’s extradition will be ready in “next few days”

Vera Jourová, EC Justice Commissioner, rules out including "rebellion" for European arrest warrants

Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart are behind bars while under investigation for sedition 

Spanish government dismisses allegations of pro-independence leaders imprisoned for their political ideas as false

Imprisoned leaders of pro-independence organizations call people to peacefully take to the streets to protest their arrest

The prosecutor had asked the judge to send Josep Lluís Trapero to prison without bail

Judge to decide on fate of Mossos d’Esquadra head Josep Lluís Trapero at 6pm on Monday

Pro-independence civil society organisation leaders refused to testify and no precautionary measures have been taken against defendants 

Joan Coma, a pro-independence radical left CUP councillor in Vic, a town 60 kilometres from Barcelona, was arrested on Tuesday for ‘insurrection’ when calling for disobedience against the Spanish institutions in a plenary session a year ago. Two police officers in civilian clothes took him to Madrid’s ‘Audiencia Nacional’ court, where he had to declare this Wednesday after refusing to do so in October. Coma was freed without charges but the magistrate Ismael Moreno asked for the removal of Coma’s passport. “I hope to have a Catalan one soon”, Coma stated before the press soon after leaving the ‘Audiencia Nacional’ court. Hundreds of representatives from CUP, pro-independence left wing ERC and the Catalan European Democratic Party PDeCAT showed their support for Coma on Wednesday before many city halls throughout Catalonia and before the ‘Audiencia Nacional’ court.

Joan Coma, city councillor in Vic, a town 60 kilometres from Barcelona, was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly ‘inciting to sedition’ when calling for disobedience against the Spanish institutions in a plenary session a year ago. After refusing to do so in October, this Wednesday he testified before Madrid’s ‘Audiencia Nacional’ and was cleared of charges, although his passport has been taken away by the magistrate. “We are up against a state with a strongly anti-democratic nature”, stated pro-independence radical left CUP’s Coma after leaving the Court and called on those who defend Catalonia’s independence but also those who don’t want to join efforts to “overcome the current stage”. Coma’s arrest is to be added to that of Mayor of Berga, Montse Venturós, who was accused of an ‘electoral crime’ for refusing to take down a pro-independence flag from the city hall’s façade on two occasions.

The independence declaration approved by the Parliament this past Monday will in the end be taken before the court. The Spanish Council of State has unanimously approved the appeal that the Spanish government presented to the Spanish Constitutional Court (TC) and considered the independence proposal to violate four articles of the Spanish Constitution. According to the Council, it is an attempt against Spain's "national sovereignty", "the indivisible unity of Spain" and "the subjection of the public powers to the law", besides other articles of the Catalan Statute of Autonomy. Spain's public prosecutor’s office also commented on the declaration and warned that the police have been called to investigate and denounce any "sedition crime" against Spain's government, referring to the Parliament's foreseen disobedience to the TC's resolutions.