Don't Extradite the Basques Campaign Launch

Don't Extradite the Basques Campaign Launch

Wednesday June 10, 11am
An Chultúrlann
216 Falls Road,
Belfast

The Don't Extradite the Basques Committee is officially launching the campaign against the extradition to Spain of Iñaki de Juana and Arturo‘Beñat’ Villanueva at a press conference this Wednesday at 11am in AnChultúrlann.

Civil rights activist Fergus Ó hÍr will outline the campaign on behalfof the committee, joined by a range of supporters including prominenthuman rights defenders and community activists, demonstrating thebroad support for the human and civil rights of the Basque people fromacross the Belfast community.

An online petition – 'Stop Spanish political persecution: Don'textradite the Basques' – will also be launched at the pressconference. Initial signatories to this petition include Mr Ó hÍr,human rights lawyer Pádraigín Drinan, Gerry McConville (Chair, WestBelfast Partnership Board), Michael Culbert (Former Antrim and StGall's Football Manager) Janet Muller (Pobal) and journalist andfilm-maker John Pilger.

Speaking on behalf of the Don't Extradite the Basques Committee, Mr ÓhÍr said: “In its effort to prevent the Basque people from exercisingtheir democratic right to self-determination, Spain is breachingseveral fundamental rights as outlined in the UN Universal Declarationof Human Rights, including the right to freedom of opinion andexpression, of peaceful assembly and association, the right to takepart in the government of their state and the right not to besubjected to torture or abuse.

“Iñaki de Juana and Arturo ‘Beñat’ Villanueva are clearly beingpersecuted solely for their political opinions, not for any criminalactivity. They will not receive a fair hearing with the Spanishjudicial system and face the risk of torture.”

Mr Ó hÍr continued: “These extradition requests are politicallyunacceptable and the campaign launched on Wednesday aims to buldawareness about these cases and support for the civil rights of theBasque people.”

The campaign petition demands that the Spanish government respects thefundamental human, civil and political rights of the Basque people aslaid out in the UN Declaration of Human Rights and that it ends itscampaign of criminalisation against the Basque pro-independence movement.

The petition supports the human right of Iñaki de Juana and Arturo‘Beñat’ Villanueva not to be persecuted by the Spanish government fortheir political opinions.

It calls on the British government to immediately reject theextradition requests and to refuse to collaborate with the Spanishgovernment in this political persecution.

Finally, the petition supports the right of Iñaki de Juana and Arturo‘Beñat’ Villanueva to live freely in Ireland.

For more information visit www.dontextraditethebasques.org or email press@dontextraditethebasques.org