Catalonia's general strike in defence on the independence vote, 3.10.17, photo Robert Bonet/CC

Catalonia’s general strike in defence on the independence vote, 3.10.17, photo Robert Bonet/CC   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

The Spanish supreme court has condemned nine leaders of the 2017 Catalan independence referendum to between nine and 13 years in prison.

While cleared of violent rebellion, which could have led to a 25-year sentence, they were found guilty of sedition and misuse of public funds.

Protesters immediately took to the streets in opposition to this punitive political sentence by the Spanish state, and to demand the release of the political prisoners.