Last week, I echoed the calls of Amnesty International for the immediate release of Catalan leaders, Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart who were convicted of sedition and sentenced to nine years imprisonment by the Spanish state.
Amnesty argues that an overly broad interpretation by Spain of the crime of sedition has resulted in the criminalisation of legitimate acts of protest and the violation of rights of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
The convictions are the latest development following the referendum on Catalonian independence held on 1 October 2017.
Over two years later, on 14 October, seven senior Catalan officials and two civil society organisation leaders were given jail sentences ranging between nine and 13 years.
Ruth Maguire MSP 