LAWYERS for some of Catalonia’s jailed pro-independence leaders have asked for them to be bailed during their trial to avoid “humiliating” incidents from Spanish police officers.
It followed their transfer from Catalan prisons to Madrid when Civil Guard officers recorded a video in which they were heard laughing at people who had gathered along the route to show their support for the prisoners.
Counsel for Jordi Sànchez, Jordi Turull and Josep Rull said they were being held in conditions “more appropriate for high-risk prisoners than peaceful parliamentarians” and that their right to the presumption of innocence was violated in statements to the BBC by Irene Lozano, head of Global Spain.
In an interview, she referred to the politicians as “leaders that have committed criminal offences”.
READ MORE: Democracy on trial: Catalan leaders to face rebellion charges
In court papers filed yesterday, lawyer Jordi Pina said it was not the first time the prisoners “have been the subject of humiliating treatment in the context of being driven by police”.
The court has also been asked to delay the start of the trial on February 12 for three weeks, as the Supreme Court only made legal teams aware on Friday of the evidence and witnesses it would lead.
Nine of the accused were transferred on Friday from Catalan prisons to institutions in Madrid in preparation for the trial.
Catalan parliament speaker, Roger Torrent, visited the prisoners on Monday and said they were being kept in “extreme conditions”.
Former minister Josep Rull tweeted yesterday: “Cold is one of our worst enemies. In Soto del Real, close to Sierra de Guadarrama, there is only heating 2 hours a day. The cells are authentic refrigerators. Many inmates tell us that [after] having lunch they will go directly into bed.”
More than 20 European cities – including Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen – will hold demonstrations coinciding with the start of the trial.
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