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| Catalonia leaders jailed for sedition by Spanish court | Catalonia leaders jailed for sedition by Spanish court |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Spain's Supreme Court has sentenced nine Catalan separatist leaders to between nine and 13 years in prison for sedition over their role in the 2017 independence referendum. | Spain's Supreme Court has sentenced nine Catalan separatist leaders to between nine and 13 years in prison for sedition over their role in the 2017 independence referendum. |
| Three other defendants were found guilty of disobedience and fined but will not serve prison sentences. | Three other defendants were found guilty of disobedience and fined but will not serve prison sentences. |
| The 12 politicians and activists had all denied the charges. | The 12 politicians and activists had all denied the charges. |
| A new arrest warrant was also issued for former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont, who is living abroad. | A new arrest warrant was also issued for former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont, who is living abroad. |
| In response to the verdicts, thousands of Catalan independence supporters marched in Barcelona before blocking some streets and access to metro stations. | In response to the verdicts, thousands of Catalan independence supporters marched in Barcelona before blocking some streets and access to metro stations. |
| Large crowds of demonstrators later clashed with riot police at the entrance to Barcelona's El Prat airport. | |
| Footage showed people attempting to break through a police line blocking one area of the building, while in another, officers armed with batons confronted them. | |
| Some of the 12 leaders sentenced on Monday had held prominent positions in Catalonia's government and parliament, while others were influential activists and cultural advocates. | Some of the 12 leaders sentenced on Monday had held prominent positions in Catalonia's government and parliament, while others were influential activists and cultural advocates. |
| During four months of hearings, they told the court in Madrid that they were victims of an injustice in a trial built on "false" charges. | During four months of hearings, they told the court in Madrid that they were victims of an injustice in a trial built on "false" charges. |
| The longest sentence of 13 years was handed to Oriol Junqueras, the former vice-president of Catalonia and the highest-ranking pro-independence leader on trial, for sedition and misuse of public funds. | The longest sentence of 13 years was handed to Oriol Junqueras, the former vice-president of Catalonia and the highest-ranking pro-independence leader on trial, for sedition and misuse of public funds. |
| The prosecution had sought up to 25 years in prison for Junqueras. | The prosecution had sought up to 25 years in prison for Junqueras. |
| The new European and international arrest warrant against Mr Puigdemont was issued on grounds of sedition and misuse of public funds. | The new European and international arrest warrant against Mr Puigdemont was issued on grounds of sedition and misuse of public funds. |
| He fled to Belgium in October 2017 to avoid prosecution in Spain following the failed independence bid. | He fled to Belgium in October 2017 to avoid prosecution in Spain following the failed independence bid. |
| What has the reaction been? | What has the reaction been? |
| Junqueras accused Spain of jailing people for their political ideals and pledged that the separatists would return even stronger. | Junqueras accused Spain of jailing people for their political ideals and pledged that the separatists would return even stronger. |
| But Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez insisted the leaders had been jailed for criminal conduct. | But Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez insisted the leaders had been jailed for criminal conduct. |
| Mr Puigdemont said the sentences handed to separatist leaders of "100 years in total" were "an atrocity". | Mr Puigdemont said the sentences handed to separatist leaders of "100 years in total" were "an atrocity". |
| "Now more than ever... it is time to react like never before," he wrote on Twitter, adding: "For the future of our sons and daughters. For democracy. For Europe. For Catalonia." | "Now more than ever... it is time to react like never before," he wrote on Twitter, adding: "For the future of our sons and daughters. For democracy. For Europe. For Catalonia." |
| Anger spills on to the streets of Barcelona | Anger spills on to the streets of Barcelona |
| By Damian Grammaticas, Europe correspondent | By Damian Grammaticas, Europe correspondent |
| The sentences handed down have shocked many across Catalonia. Shortly after they were announced small knots of students - banners and flags held aloft - began marching in Barcelona, heading for the squares where they gathered during the independence bid two years ago. | The sentences handed down have shocked many across Catalonia. Shortly after they were announced small knots of students - banners and flags held aloft - began marching in Barcelona, heading for the squares where they gathered during the independence bid two years ago. |
| Anger swirled in the air along with sound of whistles and loudhailers. "This is not justice, this is revenge" they shouted. Madrid deployed police reinforcements in the region and sections of the city's streets were cordoned off to traffic. | Anger swirled in the air along with sound of whistles and loudhailers. "This is not justice, this is revenge" they shouted. Madrid deployed police reinforcements in the region and sections of the city's streets were cordoned off to traffic. |
| The prison terms given to the Catalan independence leaders were not the 25 years prosecutors had sought in some cases, but they are nevertheless seen as an outrage by many Catalans. | The prison terms given to the Catalan independence leaders were not the 25 years prosecutors had sought in some cases, but they are nevertheless seen as an outrage by many Catalans. |
| The Catalan National Assembly called for "mobilisations around the globe" - including in the UK, France and Germany - in a tweet using the hashtag #StandUpForCatalonia. | The Catalan National Assembly called for "mobilisations around the globe" - including in the UK, France and Germany - in a tweet using the hashtag #StandUpForCatalonia. |
| Others used the hashtag to post footage of students marching in protest against the sentences moments after they were announced on Monday. | Others used the hashtag to post footage of students marching in protest against the sentences moments after they were announced on Monday. |
| Meanwhile, both FC Barcelona and the Catalan football federation condemned the prison sentences and called for "dialogue and negotiation" to resolve the situation. | Meanwhile, both FC Barcelona and the Catalan football federation condemned the prison sentences and called for "dialogue and negotiation" to resolve the situation. |
| The federation added that it had suspended all football matches in the region to show solidarity with the leaders and their families. | The federation added that it had suspended all football matches in the region to show solidarity with the leaders and their families. |
| Over the weekend, hundreds of protesters rallied in the city. | Over the weekend, hundreds of protesters rallied in the city. |
| In 2017, police and protesters clashed in the streets when Catalonia's pro-independence leaders went ahead with the referendum, which had been ruled illegal by Spain's constitutional court. | In 2017, police and protesters clashed in the streets when Catalonia's pro-independence leaders went ahead with the referendum, which had been ruled illegal by Spain's constitutional court. |
| Who else has been sentenced? | Who else has been sentenced? |
| Other separatist leaders to receive prison sentences for sedition were: | Other separatist leaders to receive prison sentences for sedition were: |
| The nine leaders, who had already spent months in pre-trial detention, were acquitted of a more serious charge of rebellion. | The nine leaders, who had already spent months in pre-trial detention, were acquitted of a more serious charge of rebellion. |
| The remaining three defendants were earlier released on bail. | The remaining three defendants were earlier released on bail. |
| During their closing arguments in June, defence lawyers told the court their clients denied the charges of rebellion and sedition, but admitted to the lesser charge of disobedience which could have seen them be banned from public office but avoid prison. | During their closing arguments in June, defence lawyers told the court their clients denied the charges of rebellion and sedition, but admitted to the lesser charge of disobedience which could have seen them be banned from public office but avoid prison. |
| How did they end up in court? | How did they end up in court? |
| Prosecutors argued that the unilateral declaration of independence was an attack on the Spanish state and accused some of those involved of a serious act of rebellion. | Prosecutors argued that the unilateral declaration of independence was an attack on the Spanish state and accused some of those involved of a serious act of rebellion. |
| They also said that separatist leaders had misused public funds while organising the 2017 referendum. | They also said that separatist leaders had misused public funds while organising the 2017 referendum. |
| Prosecutors argued the leaders had carried out a "perfectly planned strategy... to break the constitutional order and obtain the independence of Catalonia" illegally. | Prosecutors argued the leaders had carried out a "perfectly planned strategy... to break the constitutional order and obtain the independence of Catalonia" illegally. |
| Forcadell, the former parliament speaker who read out the independence result on 27 October 2017, was also accused of allowing parliamentary debates on independence despite warnings from Spain's Constitutional Court. | Forcadell, the former parliament speaker who read out the independence result on 27 October 2017, was also accused of allowing parliamentary debates on independence despite warnings from Spain's Constitutional Court. |
| Some of the leaders, speaking to the BBC ahead of the trial, said the proceedings were political in nature. Any violence, they said, was on the part of police and committed against voters in a crackdown which made headlines around the world. | Some of the leaders, speaking to the BBC ahead of the trial, said the proceedings were political in nature. Any violence, they said, was on the part of police and committed against voters in a crackdown which made headlines around the world. |
| Three weeks after the banned 2017 vote, the Catalan parliament declared an independent republic. | Three weeks after the banned 2017 vote, the Catalan parliament declared an independent republic. |
| Madrid stepped in to impose its rule on the region, and several Catalan leaders fled or were arrested. | Madrid stepped in to impose its rule on the region, and several Catalan leaders fled or were arrested. |
| What is behind the Catalonia controversy? | What is behind the Catalonia controversy? |
| Catalan nationalists have long complained that their region, which has a distinct history dating back almost 1,000 years, sends too much money to poorer parts of Spain, as taxes are controlled by Madrid. | Catalan nationalists have long complained that their region, which has a distinct history dating back almost 1,000 years, sends too much money to poorer parts of Spain, as taxes are controlled by Madrid. |
| The wealthy region is home to about 7.5 million people, with their own language, parliament, flag and anthem. | The wealthy region is home to about 7.5 million people, with their own language, parliament, flag and anthem. |
| In September, a march in Barcelona in support of Catalonia's independence from Spain drew crowds of about 600,000 people - one of the lowest turnouts in the eight-year history of the annual rally. | In September, a march in Barcelona in support of Catalonia's independence from Spain drew crowds of about 600,000 people - one of the lowest turnouts in the eight-year history of the annual rally. |