[0762]

In its final report on that ludicrous trial judgement of Catalan political and civic leaders, the International Trial Watch (comprising 60 observers from 17 countries) said the Spanish Supreme Court and govt violated their rights to the principle of criminal legality, liberty, freedom of expression, ideology, peaceful assembly and political participation. The report concluded that: IT IS A CLEARLY IDEOLOGICAL RESOLUTION AIMED AT REPLACING THE POLITICAL SOLUTION THAT IS NEEDED IN THE CONFLICT IN CATALONIA. THE JUDGEMENT DISREGARDS THE CONCEPT OF UPRISING AS DEVISED BY THE COURT'S OWN CASE LAW, REPLACING IT WITH THE CONCEPT "TUMULTUOUS DISOBEDIENCE, COLLECTIVE AND TOGETHER WITH RESISTANCE OR FORCE". Basically the judges were not a third party, but an "interested party" and there are serious doubts about their impartiality!!! Another scathing criticism was that the court made an "expansive interpretation" of its jurisdiction and violated the right of "second instance", the right to appeal against conviction. Defence witnesses were disregarded by the court, IMO A KANGAROO COURT, and asked for their political ideologies, while similar questions from the defence were not allowed??????