Representatives of minorized languages from all over Europe join the demonstration on November 4th
RESOLUTION
Minoritized languages all over Europe, and in particular in the Spanish state, for instance Catalan and Galician, have been subjected to political limitations for years. Furthermore, languages such as Aragonese and Asturian have yet to be granted any official status in their respective regions. With Basque, this offensive against its normalization was already well-known, especially in the Northern Basque Country and in parts of Navarre where it has no official recognition. However, in recent months, the judicial offensive against the Basque Language being carried out in territories where Basque is already an official language, casting doubt on both its official status and its normalization process.
In response to this, as organizations within ELEN we want to express our deep concern about the flood of judicial sentences invalidating measures and procedures towards the normalization of the Basque language and, as such, the full realization of the civil rights of thousands of people. With each legal sentence, it becomes clearer that we are facing a lawfare against Basque, and that the judiciary is, in reality, directing a reactionary, regressive linguistic policy going beyond and above legislative power and majority democratic will.
To give one example amongst many, the Spanish Constitutional Court’s sentence with regard to the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country’s Municipal Law, a sentence which undermines the legal possibility for municipalities to work exclusively in Basque. This Municipal Law was passed by the Basque Parliament with broad consensus, and therefore, the decision of the Constitutional Court, in addition eroding the institutional decisión taken then, aslo violates that significant social consensus. In other words, the sentence goes against both institutional and social agreement.
In this sense, managing linguistic issues with equity and social justice is essential in order to strengthen coexistence and to strengthen democracy. ELEN believes that the decisions being taken at present in the courts are detrimental to all these matters and may lead to significant setbacks in the rights acquired over so many years.
For all of these reasons, we appeal to the Spanish government, and especially to the General Council of the Judiciary, to take action on this matter, and to put an end once and for all to the lawfare being carried out with the objective of undermining the process of normalization and revitalization of the Basque language. This is a matter of equality, justice, and social cohesion. Essentially, a matter of civil rights.
Given the alarming nature of this situation, we believe that social mobilization is essential. It is time to take a step forward, to place human rights at the centre, and to collectively show our disagreement. And that is why ELEN supports the demonstration being organized by Kontseilua and encourages all individuals and organizations to participate in the protest that is going to be held in Bilbao on November 4th, against this lawfare, but above all, in favor of the normalization and revitalization of Basque, along with that of all minoritized languages.
Against the lawfare, together with Basque, united in Basque.
Casteddu, 7th October 2023.