'Civil and political rights under threat in Spain' event at UN Human Rights Council, Geneve

Centre Unesco de Catalunya organise side event at UN Human Rights Council Geneva today on civil and political rights under threat in Spain, discussing Jordi Cuixart and the imprisoned Catalan leaders as well as the Basque Altsasua case. Professor Neus Tobisco-Casals said that there is no evidence of crimes of rebellion and sedition and any other government would have considered it a political manifestation to be heard, not penalized. "Mr Rajoy's heavy-handed way of handling this crisis (...) and the continued refusal of the socialist government to negotiate on the issue of self-determination has caused the Spanish domestic turmoil to escalate". “The international community cannot close its eyes to the arbitrary arrests of social and political leaders,” said Jordi Cuixart lawyer Olivier Peter. He also denounced the presence of the far right party Vox in the trial as the private prosecution.

"The international community cannot close its eyes to the arbitrary arrests of social and political leaders,” said Jordi Cuixart's lawyer Olivier Peter at the UN Human Rights Council side event yesterday on the threat to civil rights in the Spanish state.
The event featured Amaia Izco, a lawyer for some of those jailed in the Altsasu case, and human rights experts Neus Tobisco-Casals, and Michel Tubiana (EuroMed Rights)
The event was organised by Òmnium Cultural and Centre Unesco de Catalunya, with the support of the European Language Equality Network.
Spain was also criticised yesterday in a statement by the NGO Centre for African Progress and Development during a general debate of the Human Rights Council. In an oral statement the NGO stated that the accusations of rebellion and sedition against the Catalan leaders are unfounded and urged the United Nations to "immediately" demand the release of the prisoners. "The Spanish authorities have converted the right of assembly and demonstration into a crime of rebellion," they said.
They reminded the UN that Spain is obliged to protect the freedom of expression, which includes political expression in accordance with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and that the right to self-determination is guaranteed through Article 1 of the same text.
The Spanish representative reacted by declaring the NGO's statement as "Not appropriate" adding that Spain is "a fully democratic country, under the rule of law and with the full separation of powers." (Eurolang 2019)