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Four EHE activists have been expelled from the Baiona court for attempting to testify in Basque

The four people are being prosecuted for painting the motto "Euskaraz bizi nahi dugu" in an official building and today, at the trial, they have been denied the right to testify in Euskera, and the trial itself has become "another clear example of the violations of rights that we Basques must suffer", in the words of EHE.
Baiona  EHE epaiketa
Rally in front of the court in Bayonne today. Photo: EHE.

Four members of the Euskal Herrian Euskaraz movement have been expelled from the Baiona court this Thursday for attempting to testify in Basque. On 27 September, four people, including the Bayonne writer Gorka Torre, climbed to the headquarters of the Department of the Atlantic Pyrenees in Bayonne for painting the phrase "Euskaraz bizi nahi dugu".

They had a trial for these acts today. They came without a lawyer, and the Department didn't send anyone either.

Although they had made a formal request at the trial to be able to testify in Basque, the activists have been refused to speak in Basque and have been given the opportunity to testify as a translator in French or Spanish. 

Torre briefly put forward his arguments in French and then tried to speak in Basque, but the judge refused to let him go and ordered them to leave the case.

According to the Euskaltzale movement in a statement, "EHE members have not been able to defend themselves before the judge" and the  trial itself has become "another clear example of the violations of rights that we Basques must suffer", in the words of the EHE.

In the end the case was conducted without a defendant and without a lawyer, there was a conversation between the judge and the prosecutor.

The penalties are: a fine of 1,500 euros for Gorka Torre and two years without civil rights, and a fine of 500 euros for the rest (but without payment).

They consider it 'unacceptable' to ban Basque speakers in Euskal Herria and believe that 'what has happened clearly indicates the attitude of the French State towards the Basque Country: despite some apparent actions in favour of the Basque Country, the authorities condemn the Basque Country to death'.

"We strongly denounce what has happened and call for a response to the oppression we suffer, as we have done today, with an intransigent and disobedient attitude, developing them responsibly and collectively," they explain. 

Last Saturday dozens of people gathered againsttoday's trial to express their support for the defendants eta. 

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