Saudi state-owned ‘Bahri Abha’ arrives at port in Valencia amid concerns Spanish authorities are failing to prevent possible war crimes in Yemen Since Yemen conflict began, same vessel has transported £120m of arms to Saudi Arabia ‘If officials allow this operation, they risk being complicit in the commission of war crimes’ - Alberto Estévez A Saudi Arabian cargo ship has been allowed to enter the Spanish port of Sagunto in Valencia, despite Amnesty International and other NGOs calling on the Spanish authorities to block the vessel’s entry because of fears it may be carrying weapons bound for

Amnesty International releases new analysis of high-profile Catalan trial The conviction of Catalan leaders Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart found guilty of sedition are 'excessive and disproportionate', Amnesty International said today [19 November] as it released new analysis into the high-profile trial. The sentences handed down by Spain’s Supreme Court last month, found the two civil society leaders and seven other senior Catalan officials charged with the crime of sedition under Spain’s Criminal Code and sentenced to between nine and thirteen years in prison. Esteban Beltran, Amnesty Spain

Amnesty observers see police using excessive force and inappropriately deploying anti-riot equipment and munitions Hundreds injured, with police using rubber or ‘foam’ bullet-like projectiles ‘It is very concerning the way anti-riot munitions are being used during these demonstrations’ - Marie Struthers In response to the demonstrations in Barcelona and the rest of Catalonia after the Spanish Supreme Court sentenced 12 Catalan political leaders and activists, Amnesty International has called on the authorities to take every necessary measure to support peaceful assembly and allow people to

Proactiva Open Arms rescue ship has 121 people onboard in sweltering heat and overcrowded conditions Some of those on the vessel have reportedly been tortured in detention in Libya ‘Politicians are shamelessly breaching their responsibilities under international law’ - Maria Serrano Amnesty International is seriously concerned for the wellbeing of 121 people - including 30 children and two babies - stranded at sea in sweltering heat and overcrowded conditions on an NGO rescue ship currently 30 nautical miles from Italy, between Malta and Lampedusa. Those onboard the Proactiva Open Arms ship

A year on from their pre-trial detention, the pair languish in jail charged with ‘rebellion’ ‘Their continued detention constitutes a disproportionate restriction on their rights to free speech and peaceful assembly’ - Fotis Filippou A year after two leading Catalan figures - Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart - were detained on “sedition” charges relating to the Catalan independence referendum and protests last year, Fotis Filippou, Amnesty International Europe Deputy Director, said: “There is no justification for keeping Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart in pre-trial detention and we reiterate

With crucial decision expected on Wednesday, Spain urged to cease all arms deals Spain exported weapons worth nearly €1bn during 2015-17, with licences issued for twice as much again International pressure to end arms sales to Saudi coalition growing, including on UK Amnesty International is calling on the Spanish government to halt all arms sales to the Saudi Arabia-led coalition ahead of an expected decision on the issue on Wednesday. On 4 September, the Spanish government announced it would cancel the sale of 400 laser-guided bombs to Saudi Arabia, following an international outcry over an

Jordi Sánchez and Jordi Cruixat have already been in detention for nearly three weeks Call for sedition charge to be dropped Amnesty International is concerned at today’s decision by a Spanish judge to maintain the pre-trial detention of Jordi Sánchez and Jordi Cruixat, presidents of the Catalan National Assembly and Omnium Cultural. The pair are charged with sedition under article 544 of the Spanish Criminal Code in connection with protests they organised in Barcelona on 21 and 21 September. Both were imprisoned on 16 October. On 18 October, Amnesty said that the prosecution of Sánchez and

Spanish authorities must carry out a swift, thorough and impartial investigation after Amnesty International observers in Catalonia confirmed excessive and unnecessary use of force by police, including the beating of defenceless people and the use of rubber balls to subdue peaceful protesters. A team of Amnesty observers confirmed that members of the National Police force's Police Intervention Unit (UIP) and Civil Guard officers used excessive and disproportionate force against demonstrators who were passively resisting in the streets and at entrances to polling stations. John Dalhuisen

Amnesty International observers confirm the dangerous and inappropriate use of riot control equipment, including beating of defenceless people offering no resistance, and calls for a swift, thorough and impartial investigation into the events Amnesty International has directly confirmed on the ground that members of the National Police force’s Police Intervention Unit (UIP) and Civil Guard officers used excessive and disproportionate force against demonstrators who were passively resisting in the streets and at the entrances to polling stations. The security forces were acting on the ruling of