Last use of capital punishment in Spain

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Last use of capital punishment in Spain

The last use of capital punishment in Spain occurred on September 27, 1975, during the final years of the Francoist regime. The executions were carried out by firing squad and involved five members of the Basque separatist group ETA and the Revolutionary Antifascist Patriotic Front (FRAP).

Background

Francisco Franco, the dictator who ruled Spain from 1939 until his death in 1975, maintained the use of capital punishment as a tool for political repression. During his regime, numerous political opponents, including members of separatist and communist groups, were executed.

The Executions

The five individuals executed on September 27, 1975, were:

• Juan Paredes Manot, also known as "Txiki," a member of ETA.
• Ángel Otaegui, another member of ETA.
• José Luis Sánchez Bravo, a member of FRAP.
• Ramón García Sanz, a member of FRAP.
• Humberto Baena, a member of FRAP.

These executions were met with widespread international condemnation and protests. The United Nations, European Economic Community, and various human rights organizations condemned the actions of the Francoist regime.

Abolition of Capital Punishment

Following the death of Francisco Franco in November 1975, Spain transitioned to a constitutional monarchy and began a process of democratization. The Spanish Constitution of 1978 abolished the death penalty for all civil crimes. The last remaining provisions for capital punishment in the Military Penal Code were abolished in 1995.

Legacy

The last use of capital punishment in Spain remains a significant event in the country's history, symbolizing the end of an era of political repression and the beginning of a transition to democracy. The abolition of the death penalty is seen as a crucial step in the protection of human rights in Spain.

Related Pages

• Francisco Franco
• Francoist Spain
• ETA (separatist group)
• Spanish Constitution of 1978
• Human rights in Spain