Catalan MEPs demand release of 'political prisoners' in letter to colleagues

Three pro-independence Catalan MEPs have demanded the release of the nine "political prisoners" awaiting their trial behind bars.

In a letter to all of their 750 colleagues in the European Parliament, Josep-Maria Terricabras, Jordi Solé, and Ramon Tremosa also "urge the new Spanish government to allow the return of exiled politicians and to start a negotiation with the Catalan government in order to solve this situation in a peaceful and democratic way."

Their message also remembers the Spanish police violence exactly a year ago during the independence referendum held on October 1, 2017. "That day, Catalans peacefully defended ballot boxes against the violence used by the Spanish police in order to exercise their right to vote and decide their future," writes the letter.