Thousands of people have gathered outside a court in the Spanish city of Barcelona to support former Catalan president Artur Mas, who is on trial for holding a symbolic independence vote for Catalonia more than two years ago.
Mas’ supporters filled a large avenue next to the courthouse on Monday, while chanting, “Independence, independence,” “Down with Spain’s justice system,” and “We want to vote,” that last slogan apparently signaling their desire for another referendum to be held.
Mas, along with two former associates, is accused of civil disobedience for having organized the symbolic referendum back in November 2014. The vote, which was not binding, went ahead despite fierce opposition by the central Spanish government, which considered it illegal.
More than 80 percent of the 2.3 million people who cast ballots backed independence for Catalonia, a region in northeast Spanish, according to Catalan officials.
Prosecutors have called for the three defendants to be banned from holding public office for nine to 10 years. But their lawyers argue that they were merely defending Catalans’ “right to freedom of expression.”
Mas told a press conference in Barcelona on Sunday that, “We did what had to be done in 2014 and we would do it again if the circumstances allow it again.”
“We are defending the cause of democracy, [which] is a universal cause... We have been very firm to allow the Catalan people to vote. That was our duty, our responsibility and our aim,” he said.
Catalonia is a rich and highly-industrialized region with its own language and customs and has long been calling for outright independence from Spain.