President calls world to 'join Catalan people' in independence trial

Torra made an institutional statement on behalf of his government after an extraordinary cabinet meeting on Friday, few hours after supporting the jailed officials just before they were transferred to Madrid penitentiary centers.

His statement had a clear aim: addressing the world.

"We call on the international community, citizens, governments, civil and human rights organizations, the media and anyone committed to justice and freedom to join the Catalan people in their defense of principles and values that make the world a place more fair, safe and free," he said speaking in English.

The Catalan president called the imprisonments "political repression," and said that since the October 2017 referendum "fundamental rights have been shamelessly violated" repeatedly by Spain.