Madrid - The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has definitively confirmed a 2003 ban on the Basque separatist party Batasuna, depriving it of all means to seek its legalization, Spanish media Wednesday quoted a court ruling as saying. Batasuna is widely regarded as the political wing of the armed Basque separatist group ETA, which is listed as a terrorist organization by the European Union. ETA is held responsible for more than 820 deaths since 1968.
Spain's Constitutional Court had previously confirmed the ban imposed by the Supreme Court in 2003.
In 2004, Batasuna appealed to the court in Strasbourg, arguing that the ban violated the freedom of expression and association.
The European tribunal sided with legal representatives of the Spanish government, who argued that Batasuna itself violated democracy by using violence to reach its goals.
The dissolution of the party was a "social necessity" which did not violate human rights, the court said.
Batasuna asked the court to reconsider its decision on a higher level, but the court rejected the appeal.
Batasuna, which took about 10 per cent of the Basque vote before being outlawed, has refused to condemn attacks by ETA.
The ban forced Batasuna out of official politics. Several parties that emerged as its successor have also been outlawed, leaving radical separatists with no representatives in the Basque regional parliament.
