Spain’s Supreme Court has sentenced nine Catalan separatist leaders to between nine and 13 years in prison for sedition over their role in an independence referendum in 2017.

Three other defendants were found guilty of disobedience and fined but will not serve prison sentences.

Carles Puigdemont, the former Catalan President who escaped trial by fleeing Spain in 2017 described the sentences handed down to the separatists which add up to 100 years in total as an atrocity.

“Now more than ever, it is time to react like never before. For the future of our sons and daughters. For democracy. For Europe. For Catalonia,” Puigdemont wrote on Twitter.

The prosecution had sought up to 25 years in prison for Oriol Junqueras, the former Vice-President of Catalonia and the highest-ranking pro-independence leader in the trial which began four months ago. 

Junqueras was handed the longest sentence of 13 years for sedition and misuse of public funds while the other sentences ranged from nine years upwards.

Some of the convicted persons held prominent positions in Catalonia’s government and parliament while others were influential activists and cultural advocates.

They include Jordi Cuixart, president of Catalan Language and Culture Organization, Carme Forcadell, former Speaker of the Catalan parliament, Jordi Turull, former Catalan government spokesman, Joaquim Forn, former Catalan Interior Minister and Jordi Sànchez, activist and ex-president of the Catalan National Assembly.

Others are Raul Romeva, former External Relations Minister, Dolors Bassa, ex-Labour Minister, Josep Rull, former Territorial Minister, Carles Mundo, former Justice Minister, Meritxell Borras, former Governance Minister and Santi Vila, former Business Minister.

Following the court’s verdict, Catalan independence supporters marched in Barcelona displaying banners which read ‘free political prisoners’ while urging others to take to the streets.

In 2017, police and protesters clashed on the streets when Catalonia’s pro-independence leaders went ahead with a referendum ruled illegal by Spain’s constitutional court.

Catalan nationalists have long complained that their region, which has a distinct history dating back to almost 1,000 years sends too much money to poorer parts of Spain as taxes which are controlled by Madrid.

The wealthy region is home to about 7.5 million people with their own language, parliament, flag and anthem.