Thousands turn out in support of Catalan leader

Thousands of people have staged a rally in Spain’s second most populated city of Barcelona to express their support for Catalan President Artur Mas, who was questioned at a court on charges of conducting a referendum on independence from Spain.

On Thursday, some 5,000 supporters waved Catalonia flags and chanted “Independence! Independence!” and “This court does not represent us!” as Mas, flanked by some 400 pro-independence mayors and supporters, walked toward the Supreme Court of Catalonia.

“He fought and did what he had to do and we can’t leave him alone now,” Isabel Princep, a 58-year-old supporter of the Catalan president and a recently retired office clerk, said outside the court.

She added, “I find it totally unfair that a Catalan president is judged this way.”