European Court of Human Rights upholds veto on Batasuna

The European Court of Human Rights, based in Strasbourg, has rejected the latest appeal brought by Batasuna against an earlier ruling that the political group was illegal, confirming its previous verdict that the legal process started by the Spanish State against the formation did not constitute a violation of the right to freedom of assembly and association.

All five judges who make up the jury of the Grand Chamber at the court in Strasbourg were in agreement that they should not accept the demands of Batasuna, Herri Batasuna and their leaders, such as Rufi Etxeberria and Pernando Barrena that they revise their previous verdict.

The court therefore added force to (in application of article 44.2 of the Human Rights Convention) its original judgment passed on 30th June that gave backing to the process of illegalisation set in motion by the Spanish legal system.