Catalonia: Spanish court jails separatists leaders on sedition charges

Nine Catalan Separatist leaders have been sentenced to jail over sedition charges by the Spanish supreme court on the role they played in 2017's independence referendum as reported by international media. The nine leaders have received prison term for around 9-13 years in the case where as many as 12 of the leaders were accused. The prosecution demanded a higher sentence for these leaders like 25 years of jail for the ex Catalan Vice President Oriol Junqueras. The three who were not sentenced were just found guilty of disobedience. After the verdict was announced, many people backing Catalan pro-democracy move marched in Barcelona blocking some of the streets. 

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Catalan leaders were arrested in 2017

In the appeal for independence in 2017, the Catalan Nationalists had a referendum which was considered illegal by Spanish constitutional court. Following which, the security forces and protesters clashed in the streets. The bid for secession of the Catalonia region from Spain turned out to be a failure as Madrid entered to impose its rule on the area. Many Catalan separatist leaders run away from the area and some of them were under arrest. The ones who were arrested had sedition charges against them. The case went on for two years where the prosecutors stated that the one-sided revelation of autonomy was an assault on the Spanish state and blamed few for the arrested were involved in a severe demonstration of rebellion. They accused were also blamed for misuse of public funds for 2017 organization of the referendum. 

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The reactions following the verdict

Carles Puigdemont, former head of Catalonia's regional government reacted to the verdict calling it an atrocity. He wrote on twitter about it saying, "Now more than ever... it is time to react like never before,". He further added "It is time to react ... for the future of our sons and daughters. For democracy. For Europe. For Catalonia,". A hashtag started trending on twitter #StandUpForCatalonia where people shared photos, videos and their reactions. Various protesters rallied during the weekend for support for Catalonia. 

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(With inputs from agencies)