Youth activists judged for their political work

Last week five young activists were judged in the Spanish National Court accused of being members of the Basque pro-independence youth organisations Jarrai, Haika and Segi. Two of them were transfered from jail. The other three had been previously released on bail.

Nevertheless they were imprisoned at the end of the trial while awaiting sentence.


All of them had been on the run when another 31 activists were tried in 2005, 23 of whom were sentenced to six years in prison in 2007. The Spanish authorities sought the extradition of four more but French authorities rejected three of them on the basis of political persecution and lack of evidence. The fourth is Arturo “Benat” Villanueva who is currently fighting extradition from Ireland.

Eight young activists were sentence to six years in prison last week for being members of the outlawed youth political organisation Segi. 115 more are awaiting trial.

During the trials all of them defended their right to do political work in favour of independence and stated that the trials were political.