The National Court will investigate the placement of ETA photos in a booth at Bilbao's Semana Grande

Dignity and Justice denounces that merchandising was also sold and that the funds, paid in cash, were for the prisoners

MADRID, 30 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The National High Court has admitted for processing a complaint filed by the Dignity and Justice association for the placement of photographs of ETA prisoners in the 'txosna' -booth-- of the 'Txori Barrote' troupe during Bilbao's Big Week. It will investigate whether there has been a crime of glorification of terrorism.

In an order from the titular magistrate of the Central Court of Instruction number 2, Ismael Moreno, dated August 26 and to which Europa Press has had access, it is explained that after listening to the Prosecutor's Office about the preliminary proceedings initiated in this regard, it is appropriate to accept the competence to hear said complaint. Likewise, he officiates to the State Security Forces and Corps so that they collect data to confirm the reported facts.

Dignity and Justice considered in its complaint, filed on August 23, that a crime of humiliation was committed against the victims of terrorism and their families. They explain that the comparsa exhibited these photographs in an "ostentatious" way -- they add a series of captures to the letter -- among which there were images of ETA members convicted of murder.

Among them appeared the faces of Harriet Iragui Gurruchaga and Jon Igor Solana Matarranz, the two perpetrators of the murder of Luis Portero García, father of the association's president.

They explain from Dignity and Justice in their complaint that the photographs of the prisoners appeared with their eyes covered by a strip that read 'censored', thus alluding to the orders of the National High Court that in 2019 prohibited showing images of ETA members to the consider that the victims were humiliated.

The association also explains that in that same barracks 'Presoak Kalera' (prisoners on the street) posters have been placed with the sale of t-shirts and merchandising that must be purchased in cash and that is intended for prisoners.

Dignity and Justice also denounces that another comparsa, that of 'Kaixo', placed a counter on its side with a legend on the top that reads "presoen eskubideen aldeko bokatak" (sandwiches for the rights of prisoners), and that it continued the same mechanics as in the sale of merchandising in Txori Barrote.

Portero understands that the placement of photos of ETA members in Bilbao's Big Week is done year after year "with full knowledge of the damage and suffering they cause" to the victims of terrorism (...), and with all the intention of vilifying" .

"It should be considered as an act of humiliation and vexation towards the victims of terrorism, because as is my case, I have to endure year after year, how my father's murderers are praised and exalted, placing their photos in such an ostentatious way and in privileged place, during the Bilbao Big Week festivities, as a reminder and yearning for his freedom, despite serving a sentence for, among other things, having murdered my father," says Portero in his complaint.

And remember that the Supreme Court has considered that the mere fact of posting photographs of ETA prisoners is praise of terrorism.

After relying on jurisprudence to substantiate the indications of crime in the placement of photographs, the association asks the National High Court to order the immediate withdrawal of said photographs - something that the magistrate has not agreed to in his order - and that both the way to obtain and the destination of the money collected through the sale of merchandising in favor of the prisoners of the terrorist organization ETA in the 'txosna' Txori Barrote as well as the 'txosna' of the Kaixo comparsa.

Thus, Portero asked that an attentive official letter be issued to both the Central Intelligence Unit (UCI) and the Civil Guard Information Service so that they certify the placement of these photographs, that it be verified that they are indeed prisoners of ETA, that there be a record that a merchandising sales store was set up, and that those responsible for those booths be identified so that they can be called to testify as witnesses in the case.