Treatment of Basque Prisoners

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/103585




"She has been sentenced to six years of prison for alleged membership of SEGI – the banned Basque pro-independence left youth organisation. According to the Spanish state, to be a member of SEGI is to be helping ETA, the armed Basque resistance group; however no “terrorist” action was proved against either Nahikari or her seven male co-sentenced, no possession of arms, no plans, maps – nothing like that. The evidence against them consisted of T-shirts, CDs and posters which indicated that they are pro-Basque independence and for socialism, in accordance with which they have been doing open political work for years. But according to the Spanish state, as in the infamous words of a previous harrier of pro-independence Basques, the 'liberal' judge Garzón: “everything is ETA”.




Nihakari was arrested in San Sebastien over alleged offences along with several others. Several people who she was arrested with have alleged that they were sexually assaulted by arresting authorities in which, if proven true, is evident of the contempt the Spanish establishment have for the Basque people. The link above gives a summary of what Nihakari has faced in her trial and that of others whom are fighting for a Basque homeland. Her supporters have fought a long campaign for justice along the way but have been met with maltreatment by the Basque police and the courts. Her husband is already in the South of France and cannot see his wife for fear of being arrested by the police. The use of intimidation, psychological torture and potentially sexual assault are indicative of how worried the Spanish state are of a Basque homeland.