Ex-Catalan minister surrenders to authorities in Scotland

Clara Ponsati, Catalonia’s former education minister, has turned herself in to authorities in Scotland and is facing extradition to Spain.

She arrived voluntarily at an Edinburgh police station on Wednesday before being formally arrested.

Spanish authorities have accused her of rebellion and misuse of public funds, and the Supreme Court of Spain issued a European arrest warrant for her and a number of separatist leaders.

Ponsati’s lawyer, Aamer Anwar, said she views the charges – which carry a maximum penalty of 25 years in jail – as “political persecution”.

The Spanish government denies it is prosecuting the Catalan separatists for their political beliefs and says their actions violated the Spanish constitution.

I can confirm @ClaraPonsati has been arrested & the extradition hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court is likely 2take place earlier than expected btw 130 & 2pm- Clara is in good spirits & greatful 4all support #Catalonia❤️https://t.co/Lwi2rGLweG pic.twitter.com/lacrtolqXJ

— Aamer Anwar🎗✊🏽#BlackLivesMatter (@AamerAnwar) March 28, 2018

Former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, who faces similar charges, was taken into custody in Germany on Sunday.

Ponsati is a professor at the University of St Andrews in Scotland and fled Spain with Puigdemont after Catalonia’s referendum on declaring independence from Spain in November 2017.

Ponsati was later freed on bail at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, leaving to cheers from a throng of supporters outside waving the “estelada” Catalan independence flag.

“Clara wishes for me to state that these charges are politically motivated and a grotesque distortion of the truth. She cannot believe that she is being held responsible for the violence that took place on the day of the referendum,” Anwar said outside court.

Ponsati’s next hearing was set for April 12. A crowdfunding page set up to pay her legal costs has already raised 165,000 pounds ($232,600).

The University of St Andrews said it was deeply concerned about Ponsati’s potential extradition.

“We believe there are legitimate arguments that Clara is being targeted for standing up for her political beliefs,” the university said in a statement.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said her government would cooperate with Madrid, but added it supported the right of the Catalan people to determine their future.

Protests in Catalonia

The Catalan regional administration has been under direct rule by Madrid and news of Puigdemont’s arrest prompted demonstrations in Barcelona, which ended in clashes with the police.

About 90 people were slightly injured during the protests, including 22 police officers.

On Tuesday, demonstrators blocked the main roads in Catalonia to protest Puigdemont’s arrest and the jailing of nine other separatist leaders in Spain.

The Catalan parliament passed a symbolic motion on Wednesday affirming the right of Puigdemont to be re-elected to his old job.

It approved two resolutions put forward by separatist parties to defend “the political rights” of politicians who are in pre-trial custody or “in exile”.

Pro-independence parties used their slim majority to approve the motion and continued their defiance of the central Spanish government.

Puigdemont, detained by German police at the border with Denmark, is currently awaiting his extradition trial.

A German court has ordered him to remain in jail while a decision is pending on an extradition request from Spain.