Two Catalan political prisoners given 48 hours prison leave

Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey has welcomed the temporary release of Catalan political prisoner Jordi Cuixart and has called for him to be released permanently. 

Sinn Féin West Belfast MP Paul Maskey said: "I welcome the news that Catalan political prisoner Jordi Cuixart has been given temporary release for the first time. I met this week with Jordi's wife, Txell Bonnet, in Westminster to discuss his ongoing detention and to call for his release." 

Maskey added: "Hopefully this is a step towards his full release. All Catalan political prisoners should be released and the international community have a responsibility to call on the Spanish authorities to release the political prisoners."

Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart became the first of the Catalan political prisoners to be allowed out of prison, after the Catalan government authorized 48 hours leave for the two activist leaders.