An unexpected ending
The decision of the Barcelona High Court to grant amnesty to Xènia Garcia, who was arrested at the age of 22 for protesting against the sentence of the trial in Via Laietana on October 18, 2019, has surprised many. After 14 days in pretrial detention and facing a possible sentence of 2 years, the resolution is an unexpected turn in this controversial case.
Motivation and justification
According to the sentence, the crime for which Xenia was accused is covered by a law of criminal oblivion, which is why the amnesty has been applied. His participation in the protest of October 14, 2019, along with many other young citizens, focused on rejecting the high penalties imposed by the Supreme Court on political and social leaders. Despite the initial accusations, Xenia was ultimately not charged with two serious charges, causing the proceedings against her to be dismissed.
A controversial arrest
The viral video of the arrest of Xènia Garcia, where a Spanish police officer drags her by the hair, caused great controversy. Despite the initial justifications based on the alleged possession of petanque balls, in the end, no accusation of assault on the authority or injuries to the officers could be sustained. His experience in Wad-Ras prison has now become an emblematic case of the complexity of the legal system.
A lasting impact
Xènia Garcia’s amnesty has not only been a turning point in her own case, but has also had implications for other people arrested in the same context. Its resolution has had a significant impact on the debate on justice and equity in today’s society, provoking reflections on the appropriate use of the law and the protection of citizens’ rights in similar situations.
