Bairbre de Brún, Sinn Féin MEP, has welcomed today’s ruling by a Belfast court not to extradite one of the Basques, Arturo Villanueva, who the Spanish authorities were pursuing and has called for the extradition warrant against Inaki de Juana also to be rejected.
Ms de Brún said: “Today’s decision, ruling that the International Arrest Warrant issued against Arturo Villanueva is invalid, is to be welcomed and highlights the spurious and politically motivated nature of the charges brought against both Arturo Villaneuva and Inaki de Juana by the Spanish authorities
“The two men are essentially being pursued solely for their political ideas and the extradition attempts on behalf of the Spanish authorities, in both cases, now need to be wholly rejected.
“It further exposes the ongoing repression within the Basque Country where social, youth, media and political groups alike are made illegal and repressed with many members being imprisoned.
“It is Sinn Féin’s belief that the Spanish government should desist from such actions and focus upon exploring the unconditional declaration of support for a peaceful, political and democratic process by the Basque Abertzale Left grouping this week.“
