Dozens arrested over ‘Basque separatist ties’

Georgetown SLB reports that police early Tuesday arrested 34 people suspected of belonging to the leadership of a youth wing of the outlawed Basque separatist group ETA, Spain’s Interior Ministry said in a statement. The youths detained would not yet be members of ETA, which is blamed for more than 800 deaths, but are suspected [...]

Spain lawyer alleges discrimination after judge orders her to remove headscarf in terrorism trial

[JURIST] A Spanish lawyer said Wednesday that she has filed a complaint with the General Council of the Judiciary alleging abuse of power and discrimination after a National Court judge asked her to leave the courtroom for declining to remove her hijab, or Muslim headscarf. Judge Javier Gomez Bermudez asked lawyer Zoubida Barik Edidi to [...]

Spain judge indicts 7 for aiding and abetting Madrid train bombing suspects

[JURIST] Judge Eloy Velasco of the Spanish National Court on Monday indicted seven people for their alleged involvement in helping the suspected perpetrators of the 2004 Madrid train bombings flee Spain after the attacks. Six of the seven have been charged with belonging to a terrorist organization and the seventh person has been charged with [...]

Annual Report of the UN Committee against Torture – Terrorism related issues

Read the 380 pages report here.
Consideration of reports submitted by state parties under article 19 CAT.
On China
p.27: The Committee appreciates the information on the importance given by the State party to anti-terrorist work and the information on their attempts to strengthen anti-terrorism legislation and other relevant measures, including international cooperation against terrorism. Notwithstanding this information, [...]

ECHR upholds Spain ban of Basque separatist parties

(Jurist) The European Court of Human Rights last week upheld Spain’s ban of Basque political groups Batasuna and Herri Batasuna for their alleged ties to Basque separatist group ETA. In Herri Batasuna and Batasuna v. Spain, the ECHR considered the political groups’ argument that Spain’s organic laws (LOPP), banning the Batasuna political groups in response [...]

Spain: Man convicted for glorifcation of terrorism

On 17 June, the Audiencia Nacional convicted Manuel Gallastegui Miñaur to one year and three months detention for “glorifcation of terrorism”. Gallastegui Miñaur was convicted for having justifed ETA terrorist activities in a TV interview as “patriotic” and having referred to the victims of terrorism as “enemy of the people”. On 10 July, the same [...]

Spanish Ombudsman: ’self serving version of human rights’ used as a shield by terrorists

Enrique Múgica Herzog, the Spanish Ombudsman said in a speech at the Real Institute Elcano the following:
Aside from political and governmental measures that might prevent or reduce the likelihood of acts that cause pain and terror, the institutions of democratic states are also obliged to confront certain dangers which, for the very reason that they [...]

Spain: Constitutional Court reverses Supreme Court’s decision on electoral list

(ICJ) On 21 May, the Constitutional Court overturned a ruling by the Supreme Court that had annulled the electoral list Iniciativa Internacionalista – Solidaridad entre los Peublos. The Supreme Court’s decision had been directed at the participation of persons allegedly connected with the banned parties Batasuna, ANV, and PCTV. The Constitutional Court found deficiencies in [...]

New Basque President Vows to Fight ETA

A Socialist politician Patxi López, 49, won 35 of a possible 75 votes cast by Basque lawmakers, vowing to confront ETA head-on and calling for unity between Basque secessionists and those who favor remaining part of Spain.
“The new government will de-legitimize the discourse of violence that exists in this region. It will marginalize ETA’s supporters,” [...]

France and Spain set up joint body to fight terrorism

(AFP) – France and Spain signed a deal Tuesday to set up a joint security committee to fight terrorism, drug trafficking and illegal immigration, the two countries announced following a bilateral summit.The heads of the security services of both countries will meet every six months to plan joint actions in the fight against terrorism and [...]