Legal Challenge to Parole of ETA Member Narváez Goñi in Spain
The Basque Government's decision to grant semi-freedom to Juan Jesús Narváez Goñi faces legal opposition from the prosecutor, halting his release.
The prosecution in Spain has filed a legal appeal against the decision by the Basque Government to grant semi-freedom to Juan Jesús Narváez Goñi, a former member of the Basque separatist group ETA, commonly known as 'Pajas'.
The move comes amid significant public concern and backlash from victims of terrorism.
Narváez Goñi was convicted for multiple crimes, including four murders, resulting in a total sentence of nearly 500 years in prison.
After spending more than two decades in hiding in Mexico, he was arrested in 2015 and subsequently tried and sentenced in the same year.
Despite having served only ten years of his sentence, the Basque Government's Department of Justice and Human Rights recently approved a third-degree status for Narváez Goñi, permitting him to leave prison during the day while returning only to sleep.
However, due to the legal appeal filed by prosecutor Carlos García Berro, this semi-liberty will be suspended until the National Court reviews the case.
The prosecutor contends that granting such status is premature.
Although Narváez Goñi has shown what the authorities describe as 'good progress' in prison rehabilitation, he has not yet made use of any granted temporary exit permissions.
The prosecution argues that it is prudent to wait to see how he manages these permissions before considering semi-freedom.
Narváez Goñi's criminal history is extensive, having received a sentence of 296 years for a bomb attack that killed two members of the anti-terrorism unit Tedax.
Additionally, he was sentenced to 104 years for his involvement in an attack against the Civil Guard's barracks in Torremolinos, which injured four and caused significant property damage.
In another incident in December 1991, he was involved in the murders of two police officers in Barcelona, contributing to his amassed sentences totaling 460 years.
This recent decision by the Basque Government has faced sharp criticism from the Association of Victims of Terrorism (AVT), which emphasizes that Narváez Goñi has not demonstrated remorse for his crimes.
The responsibility for this decision lies with María Jesús San José López, the Basque Minister of Justice and Human Rights, who is affiliated with the Basque Socialist Party (PSE), the local branch of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE).
The AVT has dubbed the semi-freedom as a form of 'covert pardons', especially since the transfer of penitentiary powers to the Basque Government in October 2021 has led to a surge in similar cases, with approximately 30% of ETA prisoners currently enjoying a third-degree status.
Prior to 2015, Narváez Goñi had evaded justice for over two decades, living with his partner, also an ETA member, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
The couple reportedly supported themselves by working in yoga and massage therapy while raising their children.
The move comes amid significant public concern and backlash from victims of terrorism.
Narváez Goñi was convicted for multiple crimes, including four murders, resulting in a total sentence of nearly 500 years in prison.
After spending more than two decades in hiding in Mexico, he was arrested in 2015 and subsequently tried and sentenced in the same year.
Despite having served only ten years of his sentence, the Basque Government's Department of Justice and Human Rights recently approved a third-degree status for Narváez Goñi, permitting him to leave prison during the day while returning only to sleep.
However, due to the legal appeal filed by prosecutor Carlos García Berro, this semi-liberty will be suspended until the National Court reviews the case.
The prosecutor contends that granting such status is premature.
Although Narváez Goñi has shown what the authorities describe as 'good progress' in prison rehabilitation, he has not yet made use of any granted temporary exit permissions.
The prosecution argues that it is prudent to wait to see how he manages these permissions before considering semi-freedom.
Narváez Goñi's criminal history is extensive, having received a sentence of 296 years for a bomb attack that killed two members of the anti-terrorism unit Tedax.
Additionally, he was sentenced to 104 years for his involvement in an attack against the Civil Guard's barracks in Torremolinos, which injured four and caused significant property damage.
In another incident in December 1991, he was involved in the murders of two police officers in Barcelona, contributing to his amassed sentences totaling 460 years.
This recent decision by the Basque Government has faced sharp criticism from the Association of Victims of Terrorism (AVT), which emphasizes that Narváez Goñi has not demonstrated remorse for his crimes.
The responsibility for this decision lies with María Jesús San José López, the Basque Minister of Justice and Human Rights, who is affiliated with the Basque Socialist Party (PSE), the local branch of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE).
The AVT has dubbed the semi-freedom as a form of 'covert pardons', especially since the transfer of penitentiary powers to the Basque Government in October 2021 has led to a surge in similar cases, with approximately 30% of ETA prisoners currently enjoying a third-degree status.
Prior to 2015, Narváez Goñi had evaded justice for over two decades, living with his partner, also an ETA member, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
The couple reportedly supported themselves by working in yoga and massage therapy while raising their children.
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