Appearing as a civil party/private prosecution, the Catalan National Assembly (ANC) has filed a cassation appeal before the Second Chamber of the Spanish Supreme Court to challenge the application of the Amnesty Law for Spanish police officers investigated for violence on October 1, 2017.
The appeal responds to a ruling by the 3rd Section of the Barcelona Court, dated February 14, 2025, which dismissed the appeal against the case dismissal previously issued by Barcelona’s Court of inquiry No. 7. The ANC considers this decision both legally flawed and morally unacceptable, given the severity of the acts under investigation.
Through this legal action, the ANC reaffirms its commitment to defending human rights and the dignity of the victims of police brutality while peacefully exercising their right to vote. The ANC maintains that:
- Abuse of power and unjustified violence against peaceful, democratic demonstrators cannot be amnestied.
- The acts committed may constitute crimes against moral integrity and may also amount to inhuman or degrading treatment under the European Convention on Human Rights.
- The application of amnesty in this case is legally improper, particularly as the police actions lacked legitimate or proportional purpose, and instead sought to intimidate, humiliate, and punish.
This appeal marks a key step toward securing a clear position from the Supreme Court on the limits of amnesty and the protection of fundamental rights. It highlights the ANC’s ongoing efforts to ensure no rights violation goes unpunished and reaffirms its commitment to using all civic and legal means to advance justice and freedom.
The ANC has filed this appeal in coordination with Òmnium Cultural (also a civil party in the case), Irídia (acting as private prosecution), and other affected individuals who have also submitted appeals through their legal representatives. The effort is supported by the Caixa de Solidaritat.