As the virus spreads and the death toll rises in Spain, on Tuesday 03 March, it emerged that the Catalan pro-independence political prisoners might be allowed to spend the coronavirus lockdown period confined in their homes instead of the prison. As a result, the Spanish Supreme Court’s issued a brief statement to the media warning that if Catalan Prison Boards – public servants on the execution of their legal mandate- allow jailed Catalan leaders to go home during the COVID-19 confinement period, they could be liable for the crime of “breach of official duty.” The Supreme Court goes as far as to request for the officials who have supported this agreement to be formally identified.

Currently, the nine Catalan political prisoners are entitled to regular temporary leave for work, voluntary activity or care for a relative under article 100.2 of Spain’s law governing prison regulations. Following the statement of the Spanish Supreme Court, the permission was denied to the nine Catalan political prisoners but accepted for fifteen other people under the same penitentiary regime.  

For more information click here. (in Spanish)  

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