The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
St Andrews demo over professor’s extradition
Professor Clara Ponsati was formerly a Catalan education minister
Demonstrators gathered in St Andrews last night to protest against the forced extradition of a former Catalan minister.
Professor Clara Ponsati vowed to fight attempts to return her to Spain to answer charges of violent rebellion and misappropriation of public funds in connection with Catalonia’s controversial independence referendum last year.
The ex-education minister returned to work at St Andrews University after fleeing Spain following Catalonia’s failed bid to declare independence in October.
She was released on bail after a brief hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, having handed herself in to Scottish police yesterday morning.
She faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of the crime of rebellion, and eight more for the misappropriation of funds.
Professor Ponsati’s lawyer Aamer Anwar said the charges were “politically motivated and a grotesque distortion of the truth”.
A crowdfunding drive launched yesterday to raise money for her defence had reached almost £200,000 by last night.
St Andrews University students are holding a series of demonstrations to protest the arrest of one of their professors, a pro-independence former Catalan minister sought by the Spanish government.
The student protesters, who gathered outside St Andrews University Students’ Association yesterday, said an extradition would be an “attack” on democracy.
One of the organisers, Stephanie Melnick, said: “We believe that the crimes Professor Ponsati has been accused of are politically motivated.
“Should she be extradited she is likely to suffer inhumane treatment, whilst the independence of the judiciary in Spain cannot be guaranteed.
“This is an attack on democracy and political freedom, and we are here to stand up to that.
“This directly affects us. A lot of the students know this professor and we believe and hope that even though she has been arrested, she will not be extradited.”
Around 10 students attended the protest, with several hundred expected at a bigger demonstration in the town on Monday.
Professor Sally Mapstone, the university’s principal and vicechancellor, said: “Clara is a valued colleague and we are committed to protect and support her.”