It is 395 miles, from Barcelona to Estremera Prison, and 366 to Alcalá de Henares,
where Carme Forcadell and Dolors Bassa, the women political prisoners
are held. That is a twice-a-month twelve-hour there-and-back slog on
Spanish motorways, or more than €300* in train and taxi fares. And all
that, for a too-brief moment of snatched conversation with your husband,
mother, father, sister…
The political prisoners are held on remand. They are innocent men and women, who have not been convicted of any crimes. But Spanish high court judge Pablo Llarena has refused to allow them to move to a prison nearer home. And yesterday the Constitutional Court again refused a request for release from Josep Rull and Jordi Turull.
The 800 mile round trip represents one or two entire days out of the lives of the prisoners’ families, each fortnight. It’s hard to hold down a job, or keep the kids busy at school, if you have to be in a Spanish prison one day in fourteen. And that is without calculating the cost of food and accommodation.
Children who cannot visit their imprisoned parent regularly suffer emotionally and at school, according to researchers in the USA. Meanwhile, a report from the UK’s HM Inspectorate of Prisons, featured in the Howard League for Penal Reform blog, says that each 25-mile unit of distance means fewer visits to the prisoner. And researchers “suggest that the lives of women who support a family member in custody closely resemble those of women who are themselves incarcerated, as both often struggle with poverty, trauma and precarity.”
Donate to the prisoners’ families fund, The Catalan Association for Civil Rights, which is helping to cover the costs of visits. You'll find details on our What you can Do page.
Write to the new Spanish President to demand the release of the political prisoners. For his address, and more actions, see our page on what you can do.
*Estimate based on current Renfe rail price Barcelona-Madrid return, midweek, for one adult and two children.
The political prisoners are held on remand. They are innocent men and women, who have not been convicted of any crimes. But Spanish high court judge Pablo Llarena has refused to allow them to move to a prison nearer home. And yesterday the Constitutional Court again refused a request for release from Josep Rull and Jordi Turull.
The 800 mile round trip represents one or two entire days out of the lives of the prisoners’ families, each fortnight. It’s hard to hold down a job, or keep the kids busy at school, if you have to be in a Spanish prison one day in fourteen. And that is without calculating the cost of food and accommodation.
Children who cannot visit their imprisoned parent regularly suffer emotionally and at school, according to researchers in the USA. Meanwhile, a report from the UK’s HM Inspectorate of Prisons, featured in the Howard League for Penal Reform blog, says that each 25-mile unit of distance means fewer visits to the prisoner. And researchers “suggest that the lives of women who support a family member in custody closely resemble those of women who are themselves incarcerated, as both often struggle with poverty, trauma and precarity.”
What can you do?
Donate to the prisoners’ families fund, The Catalan Association for Civil Rights, which is helping to cover the costs of visits. You'll find details on our What you can Do page.
Write to the new Spanish President to demand the release of the political prisoners. For his address, and more actions, see our page on what you can do.
*Estimate based on current Renfe rail price Barcelona-Madrid return, midweek, for one adult and two children.
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