ECHR rules again that Spain’s courts had breached the right to free expression

The ECHR ruled that Spain’s courts had breached the right to free expression, once again, of two pro-independence supporters from Catalonia when it convicted them for insulting the crown by burning a photo in 2007 of then-King Juan Carlos. Spain came under fire over freedom of expression on Tuesday, when the European Court of Human Rights rejected its conviction of two pro independence militants for burning a photo of the former king, named by dictator Franco.  The ECHR ruled that the conviction of the two pro-independence supporters under a separate law, which resulted in the pair each paying a 2,700 euro ($3,330) fine to avoid a 15-month prison sentence, breached their right to freedom of expression.

It said the gesture did not constitute either an incitement to hate or an attack on the king’s person and ordered Spain to pay back the fines and 9,000 euros to cover costs and expenses.

 

 Jaume Roura i Enric Stern were condemned by Spain in another breaching of free expression by the Spanish Inquisition