TRIAL OF CATALAN POLITICIANS

That this House expresses concern about the imminent trial of 18 Catalan politicians and civic leaders regarding their role in the 2017 independence referendum; notes that nine Catalan politicians and civic leaders are being held in preventative detention; further notes that all have been charged with sedition and rebellion, charges long removed from the statute book in other European democracies; understands that the former Speaker of the Catalan Parliament, Carme Forcadell, is being prosecuted for allowing a debate on independence, something supported by a majority of MPs; recognises the work by Amnesty International who will have observers at this trial and have called for the immediate release and dropping of charges against two defendants, Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sanchez, who have been held in preventative detention for 15 months; further expresses concern that among the judges who will hear the case are those that were politically appointed and some of whom are on record as opposing Catalan autonomy; and calls on the UK Government to condemn this case, which does not cast Spanish democracy in a good light.