Pair who burned Royal pictures face 15 mths jail 02/10/2007 00:00

2 October 2007

MADRID - Spanish prosecutors on Tuesday requested 15 months' jail for two Catalan separatists who burned photos of King Juan Carlos and his wife Queen Sofia earlier this month.

Jaume Roura and Enric Stern burned several large photos of the royal couple to protest a visit by the king on September 13 to the town of Gerona in the northeastern region of Catalonia.

Public prosecutor Ignacio Gordillo said the only purpose of the actions of the two was "to hurt the prestige of the highest representation of the state". They should be jailed for causing "affront to the crown," he said.

Under Spanish law those found guilty of insulting the royal family can face up to two years in prison or be slapped with heavy fines.

A date for the trial has not been set.

The announcement that prosecutors intended to charge those who burned pictures with the crime of insulting the royal family have prompted new protests in Catalonia where more photos of the king have been burned.

King Juan Carlos on Monday took the rare step of defending the monarchy's role, saying during a speech in the northern town of Oviedo that it had acted as a guarantor of stability and prosperity.

[Copyright AFP with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news