The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Catalan scholar faces extradition court fight
LAW: St Andrews professor in new effort to halt Spain’s attempt to try her over referendum on independence
A St Andrews University academic fighting extradition from the UK for her role in Catalonia’s unsanctioned 2017 independence referendum has had a new European warrant issued for her arrest.
Clara Ponsati, who was education minister in the Catalan government, is wanted in Spain on a charge of sedition.
Professor Ponsati, 62, denies wrongdoing and says she will resist extradition.
A previous warrant was withdrawn last summer, but the academic again faces being sent to Spain to stand trial.
Police Scotland confirmed yesterday that Ms Ponsati is the subject of a fresh warrant.
The ex-catalan politician is expected to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court tomorrow.
A police spokeswoman said: “We can confirm we are in possession of a European Arrest Warrant for Clara Ponsati. We have now been in contact with her solicitor, who is making arrangements for her to hand herself in to police.”
Economics professor Ms Ponsati was arrested in March 2018 and a four-week
“I think it’s quite clear this is a politically motivated prosecution. I believe that any fair judge would see that. CLARA PONSATI
extradition hearing was expected to be heard at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last July.
But a Spanish Supreme Court judge dropped the extradition request and the warrant was formally discharged.
In an exclusive interview with The Courier a fortnight ago, she said she was determined to keep fighting for the freedom of political prisoners and Catalonia after nine Catalan leaders were convicted of sedition over their role in the Catalonian referendum.
Protests erupted in Barcelona last month after they were sentenced to between nine and 13 years in prison by Spain’s Supreme Court.
Professor Ponsati revealed then she was expecting a new European arrest warrant “any day” after Madrid had lodged a similar warrant for former Catalan President Puigdemont in exile in Belgium.
The life-long Catalan patriot said then that if and when another warrant was issued, she would hand herself in to be arrested by Scottish police and it will be up to a Scottish judge to decide if she should be extradited for trial.
“I totally trust Scottish justice,” she said. “I think it is quite clear it’s a politically motivated prosecution (by Spain). I believe that any fair judge would see that as well.
“My lawyer and the team of advocates who would be acting in court are also very strong,” she added.
Human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar, who will again be representing Professor Ponsati, said: “They’re trying to criminalise the right to fight for independence, not violently but nonviolently. That is not a crime. It’s an abuse of the extradition process.”