Sinn Féin MEP Bairbre de Brún has welcomed the ruling by the High Court in Belfast that it will uphold the original verdict made by Judge Tom Burgess in November, stating that an extradition warrant against Arturo ‘Benat’ Villanueva coming from the Spanish authorities should be rejected as it contains no particulars of any offence committed.
Speaking on Wednesday 24 February Ms de Brún said: “Today’s decision by the High Court in Belfast that the European Arrest Warrant issued by the Spanish authorities against Arturro ‘Benat’ Villanueva is flawed and details no particularities and is therefore invalid is the right decision and to be welcomed.
“A similar warrant issued against Inaki de Juana, another Basque living in Belfast, should be rejected on similar grounds as both are clearly politically motivated.
“These two men are being pursued for their political ideas and the extradition attempts on behalf of the Spanish authorities should be abandoned.
“It is Sinn Féin’s belief that there are now important developments happening within the Basque Country, through initiatives for the Abertzale Left to resolve the conflict and to pursue national and democratic rights through peaceful and democratic methods. The Spanish Government should grasp this opportunity instead of focusing on negative approaches such as these extradition cases.”
