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| Clara Ponsati bailed in Edinburgh and allowed to keep passport | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Former Catalan government minister Clara Ponsati has been bailed at Edinburgh Sheriff Court after handing herself in to police. | |
| The St Andrews University professor is wanted in Spain over her role in the Catalan independence movement. | The St Andrews University professor is wanted in Spain over her role in the Catalan independence movement. |
| The 62-year-old appeared in court and was granted bail and allowed to keep her passport. | |
| Prof Ponsati's next court appearance has been scheduled for 12 December in Edinburgh. | |
| She arrived at St Leonard's Police Station in the capital with her solicitor Aamer Anwar on Thursday morning and was transferred to the court hearing. | |
| Before they entered the police station, Mr Anwar said: "We believe this is an abuse of the extradition process, we believe this is an abuse of the European Arrest Warrant. | |
| "The crime of sedition is a 16th century offence that was created by kings and queens to stop backlash from ordinary people that wanted their rights. | "The crime of sedition is a 16th century offence that was created by kings and queens to stop backlash from ordinary people that wanted their rights. |
| "Luckily in Scotland, sedition was abolished a long time ago. | "Luckily in Scotland, sedition was abolished a long time ago. |
| "We will be fighting this on the basis of Clara's human rights being abused if she is returned back to Spain." | "We will be fighting this on the basis of Clara's human rights being abused if she is returned back to Spain." |
| The economist is charged with sedition - the illegal act of inciting people to resist or rebel against a government in power. | |
| The charges relate to Catalonia's October 2017 independence referendum - which the Spanish state deemed illegal and refused to sanction. | |
| Prof Ponsati was education minister in the Catalan government at the time. | Prof Ponsati was education minister in the Catalan government at the time. |
| If extradited and convicted, she could face a sentence of up to 15 years. | If extradited and convicted, she could face a sentence of up to 15 years. |
| Prof Ponsati denies all wrongdoing and said she would resist extradition. Her solicitor plans to argue that there can be no guarantee of a fair trial in Spain. | |
| On 6 November, Mr Anwar advised the academic not to report to police because of "glaring contradictions" in the arrest warrant. | On 6 November, Mr Anwar advised the academic not to report to police because of "glaring contradictions" in the arrest warrant. |
| Mr Anwar said the warrant was translated by a senior judge, Pablo Llarena, and the UK authorities were seeking clarifications on the 59-page document. | Mr Anwar said the warrant was translated by a senior judge, Pablo Llarena, and the UK authorities were seeking clarifications on the 59-page document. |
| He said: "There appear to be glaring contradictions contained in a 'rambling' warrant stretching to some 59 pages, which jumps from 'rebellion' to 'sedition', whilst Clara Ponsati is accused of sedition she is only briefly mentioned on two pages, with no clarity as to her role. | He said: "There appear to be glaring contradictions contained in a 'rambling' warrant stretching to some 59 pages, which jumps from 'rebellion' to 'sedition', whilst Clara Ponsati is accused of sedition she is only briefly mentioned on two pages, with no clarity as to her role. |
| "We note the warrant begins with the activities of the 'independence' movement in December 2012, however Clara Ponsati only returned to become education minister on July 14th 2017. | "We note the warrant begins with the activities of the 'independence' movement in December 2012, however Clara Ponsati only returned to become education minister on July 14th 2017. |
| "The warrant has now been returned to Spain seeking clarification." | "The warrant has now been returned to Spain seeking clarification." |
| Following clarification from Judge Llarena, it has finally been accepted by the UK authorities for execution. | Following clarification from Judge Llarena, it has finally been accepted by the UK authorities for execution. |
| The latest European warrant was issued after a previous warrant was withdrawn last summer. | The latest European warrant was issued after a previous warrant was withdrawn last summer. |
| The development comes after nine Catalan leaders were convicted of sedition over their role in the 2017 referendum. | The development comes after nine Catalan leaders were convicted of sedition over their role in the 2017 referendum. |
| Protests erupted in Barcelona last month after they were sentenced to between nine and 13 years in prison by Spain's Supreme Court. | Protests erupted in Barcelona last month after they were sentenced to between nine and 13 years in prison by Spain's Supreme 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 separatist leaders had misused public funds while organising the 2017 referendum. | They also said separatist leaders had misused public funds while organising the 2017 referendum. |