Politicians often avoid mixing up with what they consider “internal affairs” of other countries, but the sentence of Spain’s Supreme Court and the lengthy prison sentences for nine Catalan pro-independence leaders and activists have caused a big wave of solidarity. International figures, political parties and organisations have raised their voice against an “unjust sentence”.

These are just some examples from Tweeter:

La sentence infligée à des dirigeants catalans élus démocratiquement est préoccupante. Voici la réaction du gouvernement du Québec. @NadineGirault https://t.co/KBzTKDkQo1 — François Legault (@francoislegault) October 15, 2019

"Bringing criminal charges is no way of resolving political differences." Today @HywelPlaidCymru asked an urgent question to @ChrisPincher, Minister of State, on the imprisonment of Catalan's separatist leaders. Read at the link below or watch https://t.co/S6yynnQnMj — UK House of Commons (@HouseofCommons) October 15, 2019

#Catalan #HRD Jordi Cuixart has been unjustly sentenced to 9 yrs in prison for sedition. Cuixart promoted peaceful protests & the right of people in #Catalonia to free and democratic self-determination.#DemocracyInJail #FreeCatalanPoliticalPrisoners https://t.co/fbVYvqEOyJ https://t.co/5iOAoLJkHR pic.twitter.com/OU0aZZJVAI — Front Line Defenders (@FrontLineHRD) October 15, 2019

I have no right to comment on Catalan independence. It is for the Catalans to decide. BUT, the rest of us must rise up against politicians being sentenced to long prison stretches in the heart of Europe for pursuing political agendas mandated by voters https://t.co/kxLAoBznj4 — Yanis Varoufakis (@yanisvaroufakis) October 14, 2019

These politicians have been jailed for seeking to allow the people of Catalonia to peacefully choose their own future. Any political system that leads to such a dreadful outcome needs urgent change. My thoughts and solidarity are with all of them and their families. https://t.co/OSaknVGzYY — Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) October 14, 2019

My statement as ⁦@EFAparty⁩ MEP Group President on the appalling sentences handed down today to Catalan leaders. As a friend of Spain and of Catalonia, the only way forward is dialogue and debate, and the EU could do far more to facilitate both. https://t.co/ycRxPuj8zr — Alyn Smith MEP 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈 (@AlynSmith) October 14, 2019

Had tears in my eyes seeing the most recent protests in Catalonia, inspired by hk youngsters. Believe in your every action, even the seemingly smallest ones could be changing the world. Go Catalonia! Go Hong Kong! Go World!#bewater https://t.co/4EvzbF4e6S via @qz — Denise Ho (HOCC)💪🏿😷 (@hoccgoomusic) October 16, 2019

The future of #Catalonia should be decided through the ballot box – not in the courts. All of us have a duty to speak up whenever the rights to democratic expression and civil rights are under attack. Our thoughts and solidarity are with those sentenced today and their families. pic.twitter.com/5EHSZ0nqty — The SNP (@theSNP) October 14, 2019

Showing solidarity to the Catalan leaders. We consider this ruling disproportionate and call for a political solution. Read more 👉 https://t.co/89m6B7Hc80 #catalonia #Catalunya #SentenciaDelProces pic.twitter.com/zMIrMQYe1N — Greens/EFA in the EU Parliament 🌍 (@GreensEFA) October 14, 2019

1/2 Whilst my official function dictates restraint in commenting the judicial and political decisions of another State, my conscience dictates to speak up in the face of unreasonable repression of political and civil society’s efforts to secure the right to democratic vote. — Dominika Švarc Pipan (@DominikaSvarc) October 16, 2019

Jailing your citizens for political protest makes everything worse. It is what happens in authoritarian nations. It will contribute to more EU fracture if Spain doesn't act like a democracy. https://t.co/vdyWhnaPOw — Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) October 16, 2019

The sentencing of Catalan writers and civil society leaders Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart to nine years in prison is a shocking outcome and must be overturned. https://t.co/E1Iimo7wGR pic.twitter.com/8G8FrW2qVn — PEN International (@pen_int) October 15, 2019

“Dit is een schande voor Europa, een zwarte dag voor de democratie en een probleem voor de EU-geloofwaardigheid. We proberen overal ter wereld een imago van Europa te verkopen waar mensenrechten gerespecteerd worden en hier doen we dat niet.” @Assita_Kanko #DeAfspraak #Catalonia pic.twitter.com/IYMLVXlvWC — N-VA EuroParlement (@NVA_EU) October 14, 2019

13 jaar cel vr geweldloze politieke & sociale actie staat haaks op de principes vd rechtsstaat. Politieke gevangenen in een lidstaat: Wat is er nog meer nodig om de @EU_Commission die het handvest v rechten & vrijheden moet behoeden, tot actie te bewegen? #FreeThemAll #Catalunya pic.twitter.com/CLzPuCqOdF — Geert Bourgeois (@GeertBourgeois) October 15, 2019

'Deze mensen horen niet thuis in de gevangenis.' Senator @markdemesmaeker reageert op de zware straffen voor de Catalaanse politieke gevangenen.https://t.co/n18sBtf9Ma — N-VA (@de_NVA) October 15, 2019

This may not be a popular view amongst some of my followers, but whilst I appreciate that this is a matter for the Spanish courts & judiciary, I cannot see the sense in the Madrid Govt jailing Catalan leaders for an essentially political move. https://t.co/GxaRxeZmFx — Murdo Fraser (@murdo_fraser) October 14, 2019

Nous n’allons pas nous ingérer dans les affaires internes de l’Espagne. Toutefois, nous sommes loin d’être indifférents à ce qui se passe en Catalogne, où le Québec est représenté. Nous favorisons un dénouement pacifique. #diploqc https://t.co/RKapfKhi8U — Nadine Girault (@NadineGirault) October 15, 2019

Avec plusieurs députés j ai signé ce communiqué de solidarité avec les prisonniers catalans condamnés à de lourdes peines de prison pour des raisons politiques. Et maintenant? On emprisonne le peuple qui a voté oui au #Referendum? Cette dérive autoritaire est vraiment inquiétante pic.twitter.com/4uKpwKKvWa — Eric Coquerel (@ericcoquerel) October 14, 2019

Spain will never be able to beat Catalonia's people into submission. It is foolish to even try. Spain has lost Catalonia and has only the Spanish Government's conduct and disgraceful mis-use of power to blame.#Llibertat #democracia #14Oct2019 #EU https://t.co/ZmNAa3h1z2 — Dr Paul Monaghan (@_PaulMonaghan) October 14, 2019

Ian Blackford, SNP leader at Westminster, tells House of Commons, "we stand with the Catalans." pic.twitter.com/4YYQX2VWmY — APPG on Catalonia (@APPGCatalonia) October 14, 2019

📺 Sinn Féin stands in solidarity with the people of Catalonia. The message from Dublin tonight is clear – Freedom for all Catalan political prisoners and exiles. #Catalonia #Catalunya 🎗️ pic.twitter.com/pu1fWpg6i6 — Sinn Féin (@sinnfeinireland) October 14, 2019

I reminded @HouseofCommons that the International Commission of Jurists have condemned #CatalanTrial convictions as disproportionate & unjustifiable interference with #FreedomOfExpression & the #ECHR could yet be of assistance #ViscaCatalunya pic.twitter.com/dZ0ZNGuNCZ — Joanna Cherry QC MP (@joannaccherry) October 16, 2019

Yesterday, I asked if the Foreign Secretary would push for EU proceedings to be brought forward against Spain after the #Catalonia scandal. Looks like the answer was no! @APPGCatalonia @CatalansForYes pic.twitter.com/eap3nZNLgl — Douglas Chapman MP 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 (@DougChapmanSNP) October 16, 2019

Die Verurteilung von 9 katalanischen Politikern zu langjährigen Haftstrafen ist ein Armutszeugnis für die Demokratie in #Spanien.Auch die Verfolgung des katalanischen Präs. @KRLS geht weiter. #Belgien und #EU dürfen diese politische Hetzjagd nicht mitmachen!@assemblea_int pic.twitter.com/LuC0tOOZKH — Zaklin Nastic (@ZaklinNastic) October 14, 2019

The conviction today of Catalan separatist leaders of broadly defined offences of sedition unduly restricts rights of freedom of expression, assembly and association, says @ICJ_org – https://t.co/tyHELmB2PH — icj (@ICJ_org) October 14, 2019

Prison sentences of 9 to 13 years for peaceful acts in favour of independence? The Spanish judiciary shows its authoritarian face and acts like judges in Turkey or Iran. The judgment will not stand, but it will drive Catalans yet further away from Spain. https://t.co/cFNgFCLdJa — Nico Krisch (@NicoKrisch) October 14, 2019

We consider the ruling against our (former) MEPs @raulromeva , @junqueras and other Catalan leaders as disproportionate. It will only deepen the crisis in #Catalonia. We need a political solution, but this can't happen with political leaders imprisoned. https://t.co/C1Xtu6Uufd — Ska Keller (@SkaKeller) October 14, 2019

I have no view on whether Catalonia should be independent from Spain, but Spain’s approach is heavy handed and wrong. This is a political dispute and should be resolved through democracy not through an act of force, or by criminalising these political acts. https://t.co/nThQhwG5l8 — Willie Rennie (@willie_rennie) October 14, 2019