A SCOT living in Barcelona has spent more than two weeks in a city prison – before he has even appeared in court – after being arrested during a protest in support of a jailed rapper.
And there is no indication of when 30-year-old William Aitken might either be released or tried.
Aitken has lived and worked in the St Antoni district of the Catalan capital for four years.
He has a local partner and his brother has also made the city his home.
The Scot was arrested on February 17 as protests mounted in support of rapper Pablo Hasel, who was jailed for nine months over his lyrics, which criticised Spain’s monarchy and allegedly glorified terrorism.
Hasel was arrested by police after barricading himself inside a university building in Barcelona as the deadline expired for turning himself in to start his sentence.
During a full week of protests, some of which became violent, police arrested a number of people in some of Spain’s biggest cities – including Barcelona and Madrid – some of whom were described as “French and Italian anarchists”.
They were also suspected of looting and vandalising shops.
One Scot who also lives in Barcelona, told us: “It could be Mr Aitken just had bad luck getting nicked whilst holding a foreign passport when they are desperate to pin this on someone.”
The National made a number of approaches to several branches of the legal authorities in Spain, but they did not respond to our attempts to contact them.
A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) told us: “We are assisting a British man following his arrest in Barcelona and are in contact with the Spanish authorities.”
We understand that Aitken is presumed to have committed a “public order” offence and has been held in “preventative detention”.
Arresting authorities said he is regarded as a flight risk – despite his home being in Catalonia. This is exactly the kind of detention pro-independence leaders had to endure for months before they faced trial over the 2017 referendum.
Although details about Aitken and his family are scarce, some Catalan political groups and individuals have highlighted his plight on social media.
Josep Lluis Alay, from Barcelona, wrote on Twitter: “In the Land of No Justice, Free William Aitken!”
Scott Cummings, from Perthshire, added: “Scotland VITAL, assistance for this Scot, called William Aitken, held in Spanish prison for demonstrating for jailed Catalan rap artist Pablo Hasel, since 18 February.”
A Catalan Pressure group – Alerta Solidària – urged people write to Aitken at the prison – Brians 1 (Modul 5). AC 1000, 08760 Martorell Catalonia.
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