Spain's "star judge" Garzon faces charges over Franco probe

Europe News

Sep 9, 2009, 10:57 GMT

Madrid - Spain's most prominent judge, Baltasar Garzon, who has pursued alleged human rights violations around the world, on Wednesday faced court proceedings accusing him of misconduct in trying to investigate similar abuses in Spain. Garzon arrived at the Supreme Court to be interrogated over a complaint filed by two small far-right groups, which charged he overstepped his jurisdiction in trying to investigate the crimes of Spain's 1939-75 dictator Francisco Franco. The 53-year-old judge was welcomed by supporters shouting 'Long live Garzon' and 'Freedom for Garzon,' with large numbers of police ensuring security. The Supreme Court came under criticism for having accepted the case, with the left-leaning daily El Pais accusing its judges of being politically motivated. The ultra-conservative trade union Manos Limpias accuses Garzon of deliberate misconduct in deeming himself competent to probe Franco's human rights abuses during his rule and the preceding three-year civil war. In 2008, Garzon accused the late dictator and 44 of his collaborators of the disappearances of more than 100,000 people. Soon, however, he was forced to drop the inquiry under pressure from prosecutors who referred to an amnesty granted to Franco's collaborators in 1977.

Europe

Spain's "star judge" Garzon faces charges over Franco probe

Europe News

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