500 international MPs and ex-MPs support jailed former Catalan parliament speaker

Some 500 MPs and former MPs from around 20 countries have signed a manifesto supporting the former Catalan parliament speaker, Carme Forcadell, who has been in pre-trial detention since March.

The text demands her "immediate release," after she was jailed to await trial for allowing debates and votes on independence while chamber speaker.

The Spanish public prosecutor is asking that Forcadell serve a 17-year prison sentence for the crime of rebellion.

Some 35 MEPs have backed the manifesto, including a European Parliament vice president, Heidi Hautala (Greens-EFA), and the head of the Green group, Ska Keller.

MPs in some 20 countries

MPs in Germany, France, the UK, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Sweden, Estonia, Slovenia, Luxembourg, Spain, Chile, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Quebec and Catalonia are also backing the initiative.