POLITICO
POLITICO’s EU Confidential: Carles Puigdemont — Ai Weiwei — Tajani awards
Ai Weiwei and Carles Puigdemont on what it means and how it feels to be a political dissident in 2018 in this week’s EU Confidential.
POLITICO
El Nacional
UN special rapporteur on human rights defenders criticises Spain over Catalonia
The UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Michel Forst, in his world report for the 20th anniversary of the UN declaration on human rights defenders, includes …
El Nacional
Ten days of hunger strike: insomnia and weight loss of up to 7kg
The Catalan political prisoners on hunger strike are in good physical condition “in general terms”. That was the announcement this Monday by their spokesperson, Pilar Calvo, ten days after Jordi …
Vilaweb
MEP urges Tajani to speak up following hunger strike by Catalan political prisoners
“Crimes amount to allowing people to vote to determine their own future” says Matt Carthy from Sinn Féin
The National
Row between Spanish and Belgian ministers over Catalonia hunger strikes
Spain was heading for another diplomatic tussle with Belgium last night after the Belgian defence minister tweeted his support for Catalan political prisoners who are on hunger strike.
Vilaweb
Amnesty International will monitor the trial against Catalan pro-independence leaders
In a letter sent to them in prison, Amnesty asks once again for their immediate release and the withdrawal of charges
El Nacional
MPs from around Europe denounce Spanish state’s repression
Members of the Flanders, UK, Estonian and Danish Parliaments have, together with the EU-Catalonia Dialogue Platform, created the Parliamentary Network of Friendship Groups of Catalonia. The objective for the new group is to “bring together voices” …
Vilaweb
Europeans believe Spain is too authoritarian on Catalonia
A study by Spanish think tank Real Instituto Elcano finds Madrid has not been open to dialogue when dealing with the independence issue
Daily Mail
STEPHEN GLOVER: How dare Spain of all nations try to lecture Britain about democracy
“Spain refused to allow a referendum in Catalonia. When Catalans went ahead Spain cracked down on them in a pretty brutal way”
Front Line Defenders
Human rights defender in pre-trial detention for over a year
Since October 2017, Jordi Cuixart has been in pre-trial detention, facing up to 25 years of prison on charges of “rebellion”. The allegations were brought against him in connection to …