Spain’s public prosecutor has called for 200 years in jail for Catalan politicians for a Democratic Referendum

Spain’s public prosecutor has called for 25 years in jail for Catalan politicians on charges of rebellion and misuse of public funds. Disappointing given they are peaceful people exercising their democratic rights in a Democratic Referendum. The prison sentences proposed by the Spanish Prosecutor in the case of the Catalan political prisoners shows how profoundlyunhinged the swivel-eyed hawks in the Spanish State have become on this issue. 25 years for Oriol Junqueras and 17 years for the peaceful grassroots activists Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sànchez.

The prosecutor recommended sentences of up to 17 years on rebellion and misuse of funds charges for the other eight jailed Catalan politicians as the Ministers Josep Rull and Jordi Turull, and is seeking charges of seven years for nine others accused of involvement in the campaign who are not in custody.The leaders’ defense team must present its case in the next few weeks and the trial is expected to begin in January.The prosecutor is also seeking up to 11 years in prison for four others, including the head of the Catalan police at the time of the independence declaration, in a separate High Court case.

The sensitive trial is expected to start in early 2019 -- more than a year after Catalan leaders attempted to break from Spain in October 2017 by staging a referendum despite a court ban and subsequently proclaiming independence. According to Spanish law, rebellion is "rising up in a violent and public manner," to among other things "breach, suspend or change the constitution" or "declare independence for part of the (Spanish) territory" but Spain could nout find violence by the Catalan part in any case.