ACTIVISTS came together in Glasgow on Sunday to protest the arrest of ousted Catalan President Carles Puigdemont.
German police arrested Puigdemont on Sunday morning near the A7 main road that leads from Denmark into Germany.
They said "Mr Puigdemont is currently in police custody" and refused to give further details.
Following the news, over 40 protesters gathered in George Square to voice opposition to the arrest, and the notice of arrest of Clara Ponsatí by Police Scotland.
The event was organised jointly by the Assemblea Nacional Catalana and the Catalan Denfence Committee.
One of the organisers, Sònia Gardés Garnés, said she wants to see pressure on the SNP to do what they can to oppose Spain's attempts to extradite Catalan officials.
Gardés stated: "I'm aware the arrest puts the SNP in a specially difficult position. Spain is trying to get support for their repressive policies abroad, and it's now time for countries who say they have to follow the law in arresting them to show justice, and to step away from the fascist behaviour with which Spain is dealing with it."
Gardés also criticised the charges held against Puigdemont and the others facing arrest.
She said: "As a CUP supporter, I am very far from approving of many of the neoliberal policies of Junts per Catalunya -the party of Carles Puigdemont and Clara Ponsatí- and especially the policies that they have been following in the last few years .
"There has been increasing social inequality and I would rather they face justice for that - not for made up charges of rebellion.
"Spain is using the accusation of rebellion and sedition which both require violence, which there hasn't been at all. Catalans have been informed of the risks that any violence would provoque and it was astonishing the serenity with which we stood on the 20th of September and the 1st of October."
"I think we got to such a level of disrespect of Human Rights in Catalonia that the debate is sadly not that much on the referendum but on getting our basic rights back."
She concluded: "But the referendum must stay at the centre of the question."
A Spanish Supreme Court judge charged 13 Catalan politicians with rebellion on Friday for their attempts to make the region independent of Spain.
The Catalan people voted overwhelmingly in favour of independence in a referendum on October 1, and Spain was widely criticised for the harsh tactics used in an attempt to supress the vote.
The judge ordered international arrest warrants for the six Catalan officials who are currently outside of the country, including Puigdemont.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel