Extradition of Catalan politicians to Spain has to be stopped

Former Catalan government minister and St Andrews University professor Clara Ponsati is facing extradition from Scotland to Spain under a European Arrest Warrant. This is a result of  her involvement in the organisation of last year’s Catalan independence referendum. Carles Puigdemont, President of Catalonia from January 2016 until October 2017 when the office was abolished by Spain following the Catalan declaration of independence, was also detained in Germany on a Spanish arrest warrant on March 25 and is now released on bail. There are already Catalan pro-independence politicians being held in custody in Spain for their role in the Catalan referendum and subsequent declaration of independence. It very obvious that the imprisoned Catalan politicians in Spain are political prisoners. 

Scotland and Germany now find themselves in the disturbing position of being expected to implement Spanish law which is aimed at denying the fundamental rights of freedom of expression and that of peoples to seek self-determination. The use of the European Arrest Warrant in the case of those politicians facing extradition from Scotland and Germany is in flagrant disregard of the UN Charter-based principle of the right of self-determination of peoples. It also very clear that a fair trial cannot be guaranteed under a Spanish judicial system which is mired in the mindset of the years of Francisco Franco (4 December 1892 – 20 November 1975) who ruled over Spain as fascist military dictator from 1939 until his death in 1975. 

The European Arrest Warrant system was said to have had the intention of dealing with serious criminals such as international terrorists and drug-traffickers. Certainly not to imprison members of a political party in Europe seeking national independence.  Once again it is the European Union (EU) that is now facing the accusation of blatant hypocrisy. Claiming to be great supporters of democratic and human rights, they set up a European Arrest Warrant that adheres to countries  legal systems, like Spain, that pay scant regard to democratic rights. The European Union was wrong not to criticise Spain's atrocious behaviour in Catalonia. Now it also finds itself being complicit in the arrest and unfair trial of Catalan politicians. In doing so it exposes itself as a self-serving union of governments, including those which are involved in actions that are far from democratic.

The extradition of Catalan politicians to Spain should not take place. If the EU wants to try and salvage any kind of credibility in terms of supporting democracy and human rights, it needs to encourage and sponsor meaningful dialogue between Spain and Catalonia. As things stand the use of an EU-wide legal process to help suppress internal political opponents will destroy the reputation of the European Union.