European lawyers' group 'outraged' at 'reprisals' against colleagues defending independence leaders

The European Democratic Lawyers association (EDL), a confederation of lawyers' unions and organizations, on Tuesday expressed their "outrage" and "concern" over the "reprisals" against colleagues representing pro-independence leaders facing prosecution.

In a statement, EDL said that lawyers defending former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont and exiled former ministers Toni Comín, Meritxell Serret, Clara Ponsatí and Lluís Puig "have been victims of hate speech and defamatory statements attacking their reputation and their independence."

"They have also suffered physical threats against them," they added.

According to the association, this is an "intolerable attack against the exercise of the right to defense," and also against rights included in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights and the European Convention for the Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

Founded in 1987, the European Democratic Lawyers association aims to defend the rights of citizens by preserving the independence of lawyers with regard to any power, be it political, social, or economic.