In an open letter, the academics highlight that the artist has been imprisoned for five years at the Lledoners penitentiary center in Bages, with his release not expected until 2027. The letter denounces that the conviction is based on “slander, in tweets and songs, against the crown and state institutions,” an offense that, according to the United Nations, “has no place in a democracy.”
Human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International, and various legal experts have criticized the Catalan artist's imprisonment, considering it a “clear denial of freedom of expression” and an “abuse of human rights.” The signatories of the petition urge reflection on the “shameful abnormality” of the singer's continued imprisonment.
“"On behalf of these academics from distinguished international universities, we urge you to reflect on the shameful abnormality that the continued imprisonment of the singer represents."
In addition to the demand for release, the signatories of the international petition have proposed the imprisoned rapper as a candidate for the European Union's Sakharov Prize. This proposal is made “for his continuous defense of freedom of expression and human rights.”
The initiative was promoted by emeritus professors from the British universities of Southampton and Cambridge, with the support of the Assemblea Nacional Catalana (ANC), the Pen Club Català, and the Comissió de la Dignitat. During the letter's presentation in Barcelona, an ANC representative lamented the situation, while a coordinator from the Comissió de la Dignitat acknowledged the difficulty of obtaining the Sakharov Prize but defended the fairness of the candidacy.
