Spanish Supreme Court denies second appeal for Catalan Separatist News
Spanish Supreme Court denies second appeal for Catalan Separatist

The Spanish Supreme Court [official website] on Thursday rejected [decision, PDF} a second appeal by Catalan political activist Jordi Sanchez. His first appeal [JURIST, report] was denied in March by the same court and judge. While in jail, Sanchez will not be eligible to be elected leader of a regional Catalan independence party.

Sànchez has been in custody [JURIST report] since October over charges of rebellion and sedition based on his alleged role in using demonstrations to stop police from halting the unilateral independence referendum, that eventually was found to be unconstitutional [JURIST report].

Judge Pablo Llarena denied [press release] Sanchez the opportunity to be seen via video at the Catalan parliament. Sanchez, in his second appeal, claimed he should have protected rights because the UN called on the Spanish government to respect the rights of arrested Catalan independence supporters. Llarena responded that the UN did not specifically ask anything special of Spain’s treatment of prisoners but merely respect their rights.

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