Catalan leader faces trial due to separatist symbols

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) - The Superior Court of Catalonia (TSJC) has announced Monday that a hearing against the Catalan leader has been set for the Sept. 25 and 26 for disobedience after he refused to remove separatist symbols from government buildings in March.

The symbols included yellow ribbons, which have come to symbolize support for Catalan leaders who were jailed and exiled following the failed attempts at independence in 2017, and the unofficial flag of Catalan separatists, the estelada.

Spain’s public prosecutors will seek a €30,000 (nearly $33,000) fine and to bar Quim Torra for one year and 18 months from holding any type of public office.

Following Spanish election officials' instructions to remove separatist symbols from government buildings in 48 hours ahead of municipal and European Parliament elections on May 26, Torra removed some symbols after missing deadlines given by Spanish authorities.

Yet, for instance, on the Catalan Parliament building, he replaced a banner featuring a yellow ribbon that read "free political prisoners and exiles" with a banner that was identical but had a white ribbon, which was taken down by Catalan police on March 22.

If convicted, Torra, who was elected president in May 2018, would follow in the footsteps of the two previous Catalan leaders.

His predecessor, Carles Puigdemont, is currently in Belgium in self-imposed exile as he faces serious charges in Spain, including rebellion, for his role in the 2017 secession bid.

Artur Mas, who came before Puigdemont, was also barred for public office for two years for organizing an illegal vote for independence in 2014.