ROBERT Sutherland attempts to take me to task for alleged “whitabooterie” (Letters, April 2). But the key issue is whether requiring a member state to fulfil the obligations it accepted when it joined the European Union is interfering in the rights of that nation state?

This is not a matter of acting because Spain has offended opinion in the EU. A condition of Spain’s membership is that it fulfils its obligations under the Maastricht Treaty, which embodies the European Convention of Human Rights. If these rules are nothing more than some kind of “optional extra”, was this no more than PR?

A simpler analogy is when a member of (perhaps) a golf club acts in a way contrary to the club’s rules. Would Mr Sutherland consider that, if the club took appropriate disciplinary action, this would be interfering in that member’s personal affairs? If not, why is Spain different?

Spain’s treatment of its citizens falls short of EU rules, so one might expect the EU to act. They could do this by restricting Spain’s voting rights or cutting it off from EU development schemes.

Lastly Mr Sutherland suggests that I might take the Rajoy regime to the European Court of Justice “as Carles Puigedemont and Carla Ponsati by dint of necessity may ultimately have to do”.

Of course, had the EU enforced the obligations of one of its most important treaties, this would be unnecessary.

Alasdair Galloway
Dumbarton

I WRITE to say how refreshing I found Vonny Leclerc’s article in yesterday’s National (Religion? It seems like we might as well sin and be damned, The National, April 2). I agree totally with her sentiments regarding Roman Catholicism. In fact I apply the same sentiments to all religions.

When are people going to realise that religion is causing a large proportion of trouble in the world, and that it is the cause of most of the wars? People of all so-called faiths proclaiming that their god is the only god. People committing martyrdom and taking innocent lives because of a fictional entity, and the child abuse too.

Just think of Israel and the trouble there because both Arabs and Jews both claim to be the rightful owners of the Holy Land. Why can’t human beings see that religion divides, and is mind manipulation by wolves in sheep’s clothing (clergy).

They get you as young as possible to influence you as much as they can.

Let’s have secular schools and let children think for themselves, as Vonny Leclerc’s children refreshingly are doing.

Anne Smart
Milton of Campsie

IF I may be allowed to correct Donald Anderson (Letters, April 2), James “Purlie” Wilson was a weaver (and church elder) from Strathaven, not Paisley, who led the men of Strathaven out in the 1820 Rebellion.

He was beheaded at Glasgow Green but not dismembered, as the crowd was rioting at the prospect of that. I had a hostelry for a short period in Strathaven and named it the “1820 Tavern” in honour of this brave old man who, as Donald noted, is considered largely responsible for the device that turned the heel in hosiery.

The late councillor Jim Mitchell eventually identified his unmarked burial place in Strathaven cemetery. It does not include the man’s head.

David McEwan Hill
Sandbank, Argyll