CLARA Ponsati has warned the Spanish Government that they “will never be able to crush the spirit of the Catalan people”.
The former education minister, who is professor at St Andrews University, made the statement through her solicitor, ahead of an appearance at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today.
READ MORE: EU's reply to Scottish request on European arrest warrants a 'litmus test'
Last week, a court in Spain issued a European arrest warrant for Ponsati and four others involved in last October’s referendum on Catalan independence.
Although this is only the first step in the legal process, Ponsati,who returned to St Andrews last month after having taken a sabbatical from her job as head of the university’s school of economics, could find herself behind bars, if the sheriff refuses to grant her bail.
Solicitor Aamer Anwar said they would be defending the case robustly. He said: “I understand that Clara Ponsati faces charges of violent rebellion and misappropriation of public funds relating to the organising of the referendum, which my client utterly refutes.
READ MORE: Scottish Government steps up pressure on Spain to drop legal action
“My legal team is instructed by Professor Ponsati to robustly defend her against the Spanish attempts to extradite her.
“Clara views these charges as political persecution and submits that her human rights and justice cannot be guaranteed in the Spanish courts. Clara remains defiant and resolute and believes the Spanish government will never be able to crush the spirit of the Catalan people.”
Ponsati will hand herself over to officers at Police Scotland’s St Leonard’s street station, before being transferred to Edinburgh Sheriff Court for the extradition hearing.
Ponsati previously told The National what being extradited would mean. “If I am convicted of the crimes they allege I could be sent to prison for up to 30 years,” she said.
INTERVIEW: St Andrews professor wanted by Spain after fleeing with Carles Puigdemont
Ponsati added: “It is very tough to realise that the totalitarian past of the Francoist regime has come back and is in control of major Spanish institutions, the police and the judiciary.”
On Monday, Carles Puigdemont, the exiled president of Catalonia’s regional assembly, was refused bail by a German Court, over fears he would flee the country.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here