Spanish court denies freedom for jailed MPs

Spain’s Constitutional Court has rejected freeing Josep Rull and Jordi Turull, two pro-independence MPs jailed under rebellion charges for their role as former ministers of the Catalan government.

The politicians’ defense argues that their imprisonment pending trial violates their right to freedom, political representation, and access to public office.

The Supreme Court ordered them to leave their seats in parliament until a final ruling comes out. Additionally, Turull was prevented from being sworn in as Catalan president when he was sent to prison along Rull last March.

In total, there are nine Catalan leaders jailed for their role in the independence bid, including former government members, the former speaker of the Catalan parliament, as well as two grassroots activists.

Seven politicians have left the country to seek refuge all across Europe, including Carles Puigdemont, the former president currently in Germany.

A German court rejected extraditing Puigdemont to Spain for the crime of rebellion, as the level of violence related to the independence bid was deemed insufficient.