St Andrews University is under pressure from some of its own staff to retract a statement suggesting ex-Catalan minister Clara Ponsati is being politically persecuted.
Prof Ponsati is wanted by the Spanish authorities for her role in an unsanctioned independence referendum in Catalonia last year.
The Courier has been told that at least 10 members of staff at St Andrews have been angered by principal Sally Mapstone’s comments, which appeared to endorse claims from Prof Ponsati’s supporters that she has been targeted for her political beliefs.
Judges re-issued an arrest warrant against Prof Ponsati on charges of rebellion and misuse of public funds earlier this year in relation to last October’s referendum.
The Fife academics say they are offended by the insinuation that the Spanish judiciary lacks independence.
A St Andrews researcher from Spain told The Courier they felt “deep sadness” about the principal’s comments.
“I thought ‘not here, please’. The situation right now in Catalonia is a total division of the society, but I am 2,000km away from the epicentre, so I thought I could be in peace here,” the researcher said.
“The University of St Andrews represents every single member, with different origins, religion, political opinions and so on. It should not take part officially saying something like this.”
The source added: “I would really appreciate if there is another official statement saying that she (Prof Ponsati) is not being targeted for standing up for her political beliefs.”
The researcher said public opinion on the issue had been “bought by the romantic idea that Spain is still a dictatorial regime” despite its internationally-recognised status as a full democracy with separation of powers.
Alfonso Valero Aguado, a lecturer on EU law at Nottingham Trent University, said he has spoken to St Andrews workers who are “very unhappy” with their bosses.
“They understand that the university is adopting a political position that does not reflect the feeling and opinions of all members of staff and that it is not the university’s job to position itself politically,” he added.
Prof Ponsati will learn of her fate following a two-week extradition hearing in Edinburgh starting on July 30.
Her lawyer Aamer Anwar has said they will show that the Spanish judiciary is not independent and that she is being persecuted for her political beliefs.
Prof Mapstone said she was “deeply concerned” by the political motives behind the arrest warrant in a strongly-worded statement released by the university in March.
The St Andrews researcher, who asked to remain anonymous, said she knew of at least 10 staff members who were angered by that statement and several who had complained to the university.
A spokesman for St Andrews said the university had only received one letter of complaint, compared with three in support of the stance.
“The university’s statement pointedly said only that we believed there were ‘legitimate arguments’ that Clara may have been targeted for her political beliefs,” the spokesman said.
“We have precisely not said that we agree with those arguments, but it is certainly the case that they exist, and quite properly should be tested in public debate, in academic argument and through the legal process.”
