Lawyers of Catalan leaders in jail or abroad say ‘problem’ lies with ‘Madrid’

The lawyers of Catalan leaders in jail or abroad seeking refuge have taken part in the first Catalan Congress in Defence of the Rule of Law, organized by grassroots pro-independence organization Òmnium Cultural.

In the event, the judicial processes against Catalan leaders were seen as a “strategic” European lawsuit. Gonzalo Boye, lawyer of Toni Comín and Meritxell Serret who are both currently in Belgium awaiting a decision on their extradition cases, called for “patience” in the public. When the active European arrest warrants are resolved he said that they must work “together” on the “problem” which, according to Boye, “is in Madrid.”

“Political crimes”

Also present at the act was the lawyer of CUP member Anna Gabriel, who is currently seeking refuge from the Spanish justice system in Switzerland over fears she would not receive a fair trial in Spain.

Olivier Peter stated that the Spanish courts have started “a battle that goes beyond the Catalan case” because “what happens here could go further in other European capitals.” He recalled that in Switzerland “there will be no extradition if it is a political crime.”

“A political crime cannot exist in a democracy because there is no crime in the exercise of human rights,” stated the professor of International Law and Human Rights in Geneva, Neus Torbisco, also present at the event.

She pointed out that despite the fact that political crimes continue to be present in many criminal codes, they "almost never apply", since most of the acts that are part of the crime "we have recognized them as rights of protest and demonstration".

As above, so below

For his part, the lawyer of deposed president Carles Puigdemont said the he believes “what happens outside will have effects on what happens inside.” For this reason he stated that they should focus resolving the “four lawsuits” in the European courts in order to improve judicial processes in Spain.

Puigdemont is awaiting a verdict on his extradition case in Germany, facing charges of rebellion and misuse of funds. On Saturday, his candidacy, Junts per Catalunya (JxCat) proposed him as presidential candidacy once again, making the most of the passing of a motion that would amend the presidency bill thus allowing him to be sworn in from abroad.