Report on the ELDH Human Rights Mission to Basque Country, 25th till 28th March 2010, Donostia
ELDH Participants: Professor Bill Bowring (ELDH President), Thomas Schmidt (ELDH General Secretary)
Organizer: BEHATOKIA, Iratxe UrizarThis report is the result of a four days visit to the Basque Country. Due to the excellent preparation and organization, including detailed documentation, by Behatokia – Basque Observatory of Human Rights1 and in particular by Iratxe Urizar, who also translated for us, it was possible to have seven meetings with
defendants, defenders in the anti-terror law prosecutions, motivated by Judge Baltasar Garzón, especially the mass prosecutions known as the 18/98 cases. We also met a representative of Etxerat (the Basque prisoners’ relatives’ and friends organisation) and to participate in a conference concerning the Udalbiltza
case. This report can only give a short impression of the information gathered. Severe human rights violations (including torture and arbitrary detention) for people who are active in the cause of Basque independence were confirmed by all people that we met.
Report on the ELDH Human Rights Mission to Basque Country, 25th till 28th March 2010, Donostia