Jailed Catalan leader transferred to infirmary on day 14 of hunger strike

Jailed Catalan leader Jordi Turull was transferred to the penitentiary’s infirmary on Friday, marking 14 days since he and another pro-independence leader began a hunger strike.

"Tonight, it’ll be two weeks since Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Turull began a hunger strike," said Jaume Padrós, the doctor monitoring their condition. "Although they’re still stable, the time passed and Turull’s individual situation makes it recommendable for him to be transferred to the infirmary of the Lledoners’ penitentiary center."

Turull and Sánchez announced an "indefinite" hunger strike on December 1 to denounce that Spain's Constitutional Court is "blocking" their cases reaching the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

They were later joined by former ministers Joaquim Forn and Josep Rull, who began their own hunger strike on December 3.

Along with the other eight pro-independence leaders in jail, Turull is to face trial for his role in Catalonia's push for independence, which led to a referendum deemed illegal by Spain and a declaration of independence a year ago.

After spending a month in jail last year, Turull was sent to prison again on March 23, a day before he was expected to be sworn in as president of the Catalan government with the votes of major pro-independence parties.