Catalan writers in Brussels condemn ‘repression’ by Spain

Catalan language writers read out texts in defense of freedom of expression at an event in Brussels on Friday, which was to have taken place in Catalonia’s delegation there but which was moved out of fear of reprisals by the Spanish government.

“This right is being systematically violated and we wanted to protest the repression by the Spanish state, including the government, the judiciary and the police,” said Bel Olid, writer and member of the Association of Writers in the Catalan Language (AELC in Catalan).

According to Olid, the AELC literary event was moved to the Casal Català cultural centre at the request of employees at Catalonia’s foreign delegation in Brussels. After a previous event was held at the Catalan delegation to celebrate Sant Jordi’s Day, which was attended by deposed Catalan culture minister Lluís Puig, the employees say they received “explicit” threats from the Spanish government, which has prohibited “political acts” from taking place there.