A new law meant to lower sentences for some crimes will inadvertently set free some of Spain’s most notorious ETA members in jail for murder. The Basque independence group killed about 800 people over 40 years before renouncing its arms. Conservatives in Spain’s parliament say they didn’t catch the clause in the bill before it was voted into law last week and have accused the Socialist government of trickery. The World’s Gerry Hadden reports from Barcelona that the new law states that time served abroad will count toward these prisoners’ release.
The story you just read is accessible and free to all because thousands of listeners and readers contribute to our nonprofit newsroom. We go deep to bring you the human-centered international reporting that you know you can trust. To do this work and to do it well, we rely on the support of our listeners. If you appreciated our coverage this year, if there was a story that made you pause or a song that moved you, would you consider making a gift to sustain our work through 2024 and beyond?