This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47597473
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Big pro-Catalan rally staged in Madrid | Big pro-Catalan rally staged in Madrid |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Tens of thousands of supporters of Catalan independence have rallied in Spain's capital Madrid in protest at an ongoing trial of 12 separatist leaders. | Tens of thousands of supporters of Catalan independence have rallied in Spain's capital Madrid in protest at an ongoing trial of 12 separatist leaders. |
| Many waved Catalan flags and had placards reading "Self-determination is not a crime". | Many waved Catalan flags and had placards reading "Self-determination is not a crime". |
| Protest organisers said 120,000 people marched in Madrid. Spanish police put the number at just 18,000. | Protest organisers said 120,000 people marched in Madrid. Spanish police put the number at just 18,000. |
| The separatist leaders of Catalonia's failed 2017 independence bid face rebellion and sedition charges. | The separatist leaders of Catalonia's failed 2017 independence bid face rebellion and sedition charges. |
| If convicted, some could face up to 25 years in prison. | If convicted, some could face up to 25 years in prison. |
| What was Saturday's protest? | What was Saturday's protest? |
| The rally was organised by more than 60 civil society groups from all over Spain. | The rally was organised by more than 60 civil society groups from all over Spain. |
| Hundreds of buses were laid on to bring demonstrators to Madrid from Catalonia and other regions. | Hundreds of buses were laid on to bring demonstrators to Madrid from Catalonia and other regions. |
| The protesters then marched from the Atocha train station to the Plaza de Cibeles. | The protesters then marched from the Atocha train station to the Plaza de Cibeles. |
| There have been no reports of any violence. | There have been no reports of any violence. |
| What's the background to this? | What's the background to this? |
| The semi-autonomous north-eastern region of Catalonia held an independence referendum on 1 October 2017, and declared its independence from Spain weeks later. | The semi-autonomous north-eastern region of Catalonia held an independence referendum on 1 October 2017, and declared its independence from Spain weeks later. |
| Spanish authorities declared the Catalan vote illegal, and the national government imposed direct rule. | |
| Spain's 1978 constitution speaks of "the indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation". | Spain's 1978 constitution speaks of "the indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation". |
| The Catalonia crisis is considered the most serious to hit Spain since the era of fascist dictator Francisco Franco, who died in 1975. | The Catalonia crisis is considered the most serious to hit Spain since the era of fascist dictator Francisco Franco, who died in 1975. |