Protesting prison workers lift all blockades in Catalan prisons

Protesting prison workers have lifted all remaining blockades of Catalan prisons after two days of demonstrations sparked by the death of a cook at the hands of an inmate.

On Friday night, most blockades were removed but remained in place at the Quatre Camins and Joves prisons in La Roca del Vallès, near Barcelona, and at the Wad Ras women's prison in Barcelona.

On Saturday night, the workers announced that they would lift all blockades, allowing normal operations to resume in all facilities as a gesture of goodwill.

Protesters emphasized that the protest was not against the prisoners, but against the Catalan government for leaving them unprotected. 

Despite the temporary halt in demonstrations, they are expected to continue their protests next week. 

1,200 prisoners confined on Saturday

Over 1,200 prisoners were kept in their cells in three Catalan prisons on Saturday as hundreds of prison staff blocked access to these facilities. 

The Catalan government said it was particularly concerned about a hundred female inmates in Wad Ras who have remained in their cells since Thursday night. 

Only essential services, such as food and medical care, were assured, with no visits, outings, or workshops permitted.

Prison visits spark tensions

On Saturday morning, tension escalated when relatives arrived at the Quatre Camins prison to visit the inmates, especially since weekends are when families typically visit their loved ones. 

Although the protesting workers allowed the relatives to enter the facilities, the visits were not guaranteed due to the lack of staff at the facility. 

The director of Quatre Camins appeared to address the situation, but the protesters turned their backs on him and demanded his resignation.

The protesters are demanding the resignation of the director of Quatre Camins, claiming that he is implementing a protocol that endangers them, citing very serious assaults that have occurred at the prison, including one earlier in the same week. 

Relatives visiting inmates confronted the director, claiming that it was illegal to deny them visits and threatening to take legal action. 

Inmate convicted of murdering a woman

The woman who was killed on Wednesday died from stab wounds caused by the prisoner, who also worked in the jail's kitchen. 

Sources from the prison workers’ union told ACN that the prisoner had recently been removed from kitchen duty because of aggression but had been allowed to return. 

Other sources told ACN that the inmate was an authoritarian and that he shouldn’t have been allowed back in the kitchen. 

The inmate was serving an eleven-year sentence, due to end in April 2027, for stabbing a woman to death in 2016.  

Catalan Justice Minister, Gemma Ubasart, went to Mas d'Enric prison on Thursday where a five-minute silence was observed in memory of the victim.

Prison unions refuse to meet minister 

Prison unions decided not to attend a meeting called by the Catalan justice department on Friday at 2pm, because they believe that the minister, Gemma Ubasart, and the Secretary of Penal Measures, Amand Calderó, are no longer "valid interlocutors." 

They will not meet with the government until Ubasart and Calderó resign or are dismissed, representatives told the Catalan News Agency (ACN). In addition, they said they will maintain the ongoing blockade of prisons until Ubasart and Calderó step down. 

Minister rules out quitting

On Friday afternoon, the justice minister ruled out resigning from her position or sacking Calderó. Ubasart said that quitting "would certainly be the easiest decision, but not the most correct." 

Justice department leaders and the prison services have the "responsibility and obligation" to manage the crisis, she said. The minister once again asked the unions to enter into dialogue to put an end to the "complicated" situation ongoing outside various prisons.