Several thousand people demonstrated yesterday in Paris in favour of reduced sentences for members of a Basque separatist group.
The protest initiators are demanding the cancellation of special rules which stipulate stricter terms for Basque prisoners.
One
of their demands is that more than 60 Basque prisoners, who have been
convicted of politically motivated terrorism and are currently spread
around about 20 different prisons in France, be moved together.
They are also demanding that sick prisoners be allowed out of detainment.
Between 6,000 and 10,000 people took part in the demonstrations, according to French media.
ETA
separatists took part a campaign to carve out an independent Basque
state from parts of northern Spain and southern France from 1968 to
2010.
During that time, the group carried out around 4,000 terrorist attacks that left more than 830 people dead.
The group renounced violence in 2011.
This picture taken this week at the Reau-Sud Francilien prison in Reau, shows a map of France on the side of a vehicle, pointing out the prisons where members of the ‘Artisans de la paix’ (peacemakers) movement will visit during a march to protest against the status of Basque detainees.
