Press statement, 15th August 2012

The International Contact Group has taken into consideration the situation of the prisoner Iosu Uribetxeberria, who is seriously ill. We believe that Human Rights, the European Prison Rules and the UN minimum standards for the treatment of prisoners, all included in the Spanish law, are the principles that should guide the resolution of  this situation.

We believe that the Government of Spain has a good opportunity to show its commitment to the new situation opened  in the Basque country, where it is necessary to create conditions for the respect of human dignity of all people.

Finally, we believe that  being the release of Josu Etxebarria based on purely humanitarian reasons, rather than political reasons, there is no justification for not decreeing it.

International Contact Group

15th August 2012