text: Under Spanish Law, declaring 'Independence' may be illegal but -
  How can a 'referendum' be illegal?  Its like a public opinion 'poll', or a 'petition' - its simply asking for opinion.
  Throwing people in jail and stopping them from expressing their views are the acts of a repressive totalitarian regime, not a modern democracy.
  It makes Spain look like its still in the dark ages - a reactionary, ultra right-wing catholic mediaeval monarchy.