Support for Catalan leaders and protests from Slovenia and Hong Kong

The 'Committee in support of Catalan political prisoners in Spain' in the central European country of Slovenia has held its first meeting in the capital city of Ljubljana.

Chaired by former Slovenian president, Milan Kučan, the meeting drew 40 attendees in support of jailed Catalan leaders, and to protest "violations of democratic rights in Europe."

According to Kučan, who served as president from 1991 to 2002, the serious infringement of human rights are not "an internal affair of state" because such rights are universal.

In the meeting, the committee also condemned "repression, intimidation, imprisonment" as a means for resolving the political conflict between Spain and Catalonia.

Calling for "open dialogue" to resolve the conflict, the committee warned that remaining silent on the jailing of the Catalan leaders is against "European democratic principles."

Support from Hong Kong

Meanwhile, Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement has called "an unprecedented rally" on Thursday evening "in support of the self-determination protests in Catalonia."

According to the press in China's special administrative region, the rally's organizers are awaiting approval from the Hong Kong police to go ahead with the demonstration.

European Parliament rejects debate

However, ahead of this week's plenary session in Strasbourg, the European Parliament rejected the possibility to debate the ongoing situation in Catalonia.