Stop Spanish Political Persecution - Don't Extradite the Basques

DON'T EXTRADITE THE BASQUES

*Iñaki de Juana

The Spanish authorities are trying to extradite Iñaki de Juana, who served 21 years in Spanish jails, from Belfast, where he moved immediately after his release in August last year, to face questioning related to charges of “glorifying terrorism”.

The arrest warrant is based on somebody at a rally in Donostia in August, which was celebrating Iñaki's release from prison, reading a letter that used the popular Basque expression “Aurrera bolie” (“Kick the ball forward”). The Spanish authorities claim this phrase constitutes a call for the continuation of armed struggle.

Iñaki was not present at this rally and denies writing such a letter, which Spanish police admit they cannot produce. There is no evidence that this comment was Iñaki's or that it somehow constitutes a terrorist offence.

There has been a virulent and sustained hate campaign against Iñaki by the Spanish media for many years, and Spain's former justice minister has previously publicly called for the judges to “construct new charges” against Iñaki to “keep him in jail”.

It is very clear that behind the warrant for “questioning” issued by Spain is the agenda of putting Iñaki back in prison, despite the fact that he has not committed any offence.

*Arturo ‘Beñat’ Villanueva

Basque youth activist Arturo ‘Beñat’ Villanueva was arrested in March 2001 by the Spanish police, with 15 other young pro-independence activists, and was accused of being a member of Basque pro-independence socialist youth organisation Jarrai.

While Jarrai is a solely political organisation, it was declared illegal by the Spanish authorities in 2005 and categorised as a “terrorist” organisation by Spain's Supreme Court in 2007.

Charged with “membership of a terrorist organisation”, Beñat faced a possible 14-year jail sentence for his political activism. Released on bail after 10 months in prison, he did not attend what many believed to be a political show trial.

In 2004, Beñat decided to seek refuge in Belfast from Spanish political persecution and the risk of torture.

At the time of Beñat's alleged membership of Jarrai (1994-2000), the organisation was legal. The Spanish court is applying the law that criminalised Jarrai retrospectively.

Beñat is being targeted by the Spanish authorities for carrying out political, public and peaceful youth work in the Basque Country. His only “crime” has been his political ideas in favour of Basque independence and socialism.

POLITICAL PERSECUTION

In its effort to prevent the Basque people from exercising their democratic right to self-determination, Spain is breaching several fundamental rights as outlined in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including the right to freedom of opinion and expression, of peaceful assembly and association, the right to take part in the government of their state and the right not to be subjected to torture or abuse.

The British government must abide by another fundamental human right laid out in the UN Declaration: 'Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution'.

Iñaki de Juana and Arturo ‘Beñat’ Villanueva are clearly being persecuted solely for their political opinions, not for any criminal activity. We believe they will not receive a fair hearing with the Spanish judicial system and face the risk of torture.