Basque prisoners face uncertain fate if extradited

I understand that Spain currently has extradition requests before the French Courts in relation to a number of members of the ETA nationalist movement however it is unclear at this stage if they will be implemented.

The French courts on the basis of the last account I read were uneasy about the treatment that the detainees would receive if returned to Spain.

One of the detainees Iratxe Sorzabal has already been subject to torture when she was held by the Spanish almost two decades ago.

Spain has been criticised for its treatment of Basque prisoners by the Council of Europe CPT and the United Nations. Pointedly the country does not adhere to the UN Istanbul Protocol on the manner in which allegations of torture or ill treatment are covered.

It is to be hoped that until the Spanish prison system abandons the practices of the Franco era no detainees are returned from other European countries to an uncertain fate.

Image: Iratxe Sorzabal previously tortured in Spanish custody