Amnesty International has called for the release from prison of the presidents of the ANC (Catalan National Assembly) and Òmnium Cultural, Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart. They also call for the withdrawal of the charges of sedition.
"Amnesty International does not question the decision of the Constitutional Court about the Referendum Law nor its application, but believes that, although calling demonstrators with the aim of prevent a legal police operation can be pursued being seen as a deterioration of public order, the presentation of charges against Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart for a crime as serious as sedition and their pre-trial detention constitute excessive restrictions on their right to the freedom of expression and free assembly," they say in a statement.
The organisation adds that, according to international human rights law, the rights to free expression and freedom of assembly "contemplate the possibility that people and organisations of civil society can express their opinions over the referendum and over independence in general at any time and individually or collectively, even in the context of public gatherings". "The authorities have to protect the right of individuals to express their opposition to the verdict of the Constitutional Court and to organise peaceful public meetings in favour of the referendum", said John Dalhuisen, European director of Amnesty International.
The body does not that a state has the right to put certain limits on freedom of expression, but proportionally and within limits. "According to the messages which, per the judge's order, were published on social media, as well as some of the statements that were made during the events, Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart encouraged demonstrators to gather in front of official buildings with the aim of preventing a legal police operation, but it doesn't appear that they encouraged the demonstrators to use violence, as such the sporadic acts of violence committed by demonstrators, like the damages caused to some police vehicles, shouldn't be attributed to them directly or indirectly as organisers of the protests," concludes the press release.