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Photo: UN Meeting / Manuel Elías (Efe) ![\\"\\"](\\" content/themes/newtral/dist/assets/images/fondo-cards-1200x672.png?x95607\\") ![\\"Share\\"](\\" content/themes/newtral/dist/assets/images/icons/share.png?x95607\\") > The UN has asked Spain to release the political prisoners after the > sentence The UN has asked Spain to release the prisoners > politicians... ![\\"Share\\"](\\" content/themes/newtral/dist/assets/images/icons/share.png?x95607\\") ![\\"Misleading\\"](\\" check-misleading.svg?x95607\\") Misleading ![\\"\\"](\\"\\"/) ![\\"WhatsApp\\"](\\"\\"/) WhatsApp ![\\"Facebook\\"](\\"\\"/) Facebook ![\\"Twitter\\"](\\"\\"/) Twitter ![\\"Meneame\\"](\\"\\"/) Wiggle me ![\\"Mail](\\"\\"/) Email ![\\"Link](\\"\\"/) Direct linkCopy By Sara GonzálezOctober 23, 2019 | 3 min read By Sara GonzálezOctober 23, 2019 | 3 min read * Hoaxes * Catalonia * Human Rights * United Nations Organization (UN) * Catalonia protests An article is moving these days on social networks after the publication of the sentence of the process on October 14. The content ensures that The United Nations has asked Spain to "release political prisoners" but it refers to what the special rapporteur for the Freedom of Expression and Opinion David Kaye. Therefore, the article is MISLEADING. There has been no official statement from the United Nations after the verdict of the Supreme Court. The article - which moves in different Facebook groups but also by Twitter- is not dated, causing confusion about the supposed positioning of the international organization. In fact, you have told us asked via Whatsapp (+34 682 58 96 64) if the content was correct. On April 6, 2018 in Geneva, David Kaye asked the Spanish authorities that imprisoned Catalan politicians should not be accused of rebellion. However, He did not ask for his release. Although they were accused of this crime, finally Nine of the leaders of the process have been convicted of sedition. ## What is a special rapporteur? From Newtral.es, we have contacted the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights of the United Nations since the rapporteur was appointed by this entity. They tell us that the special rapporteurs are part of the special procedures of the Human Rights Council and who are experts independents designated to "address specific national situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. They are not employees of United Nations and are independent of any government or organization. ![\\"Session](\\"\\") The “unique” financing of Catalonia and immigration mark the first control session to the Government of the political course > #Spain: UN Expert @davidakaye urges authorities to refrain from criminal > charge of rebellion agst political figures/protesters in Catalonia that > carries jail sentence up to 30 yrs. Such sentence»raises serious risks of > deterring wholly legitimate speech» > pic.twitter.com/4hMxmyAy8m > > — UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) April 6, 2018 «There has not been a general position of the United Nations on this issue but rather various comments from independent experts - special rapporteurs and groups of work - designated by the Human Rights Council", sources underline from the High Commissioner to Newtral.es. ## What did Special Rapporteur David Kaye say in April 2018? In Geneva, Kaye noted on April 6, 2018 that "accusing rebellion could carry long prison sentences and pose serious risks of deterring people to make completely legitimate speeches, even if they are controversial and uncomfortable. ![\\"military](\\"\\") Spain has 650 soldiers deployed on the border between Israel and Lebanon: This is the operation 'Libre Hidalgo' Kaye - who appears in the main image of the article - was referring to the provisional arrest of the 10 members of the Government and the leaders of civil society organizations. The special rapporteur showed his "concern" that a crime of rebellion "for acts that do not involve violence or incitement to violence" could "interfere with the rights of public protest and dissent. However, he has not spoken again after the ruling of the Supreme Court, as confirmed by sources from the Alto Commissioner. Kaye's opinion also coincided with those issued by the working group on arbitrary detention of the UN in June and July 2019, dependent on the Human Rights Council. The working group considered that the former councilors of the Generalitat Joaquim Forn, Josep Rull, Raül Romeva and Dolors Bassa as well as Oriol Junqueras, Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart were arbitrarily arrested and demanded their immediate release. He The Government of Spain protested to the United Nations about the writing. ![\\"\\"](\\"\\") Sources * Press office of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights * UN expert urges Spain not to pursue criminal charges of rebellion against political figures in Catalonia, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, 04/06/2018 * Hoaxes * Catalonia * Human Rights * United Nations Organization (UN) * Catalonia protests * This is our work methodology. After the verification process, and based on the data, we award one of these categories: * ![\\"Misleading\\"](\\"\\") Misleading The content contains correct data, but ignores very important elements or is mixed with incorrect data giving a different, inaccurate or false * ![\\"Fake\\"](\\"\\") Fake The content is false ![\\"\\"](\\" content/themes/newtral/dist/assets/images/fondo-cards-1200x672.png?x95607\\") ![\\"Share\\"](\\" content/themes/newtral/dist/assets/images/icons/share.png?x95607\\") > The UN has asked Spain to release the political prisoners after the > sentence The UN has asked Spain to release the prisoners > politicians... ![\\"Share\\"](\\" content/themes/newtral/dist/assets/images/icons/share.png?x95607\\") ![\\"Misleading\\"](\\" check-misleading.svg?x95607\\") Misleading ![\\"\\"](\\"\\"/) ![\\"WhatsApp\\"](\\"\\"/) WhatsApp ![\\"Facebook\\"](\\"\\"/) Facebook ![\\"Twitter\\"](\\"\\"/) Twitter ![\\"Meneame\\"](\\"\\"/) Wiggle me ![\\"Mail](\\"\\"/) Email ![\\"Link](\\"\\"/) Direct linkCopy * Fakes * Fact-check Following * Start * Legal notice * Privacy * Cookies * Contact * Twitter *Facebook * Instagram * YouTube *Telegram
The UN has asked Spain to release the political prisoners after the sentence