Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Protesters wave Catalan flags in Madrid

Tens of thousands of supporters of Catalan independence have rallied in Spain's capital Madrid in protest at an ongoing trial of 12 separatist leaders.

Many waved Catalan flags and had placards reading "Self-determination is not a crime".

Protest organisers said 120,000 people marched in Madrid. Spanish police put the number at just 18,000.

The separatist leaders of Catalonia's failed 2017 independence bid face rebellion and sedition charges.

If convicted, some could face up to 25 years in prison.

What was Saturday's protest?

The rally was organised by more than 60 civil society groups from all over Spain.

Image copyright AFP/Getty Images Image caption Portraits of the Catalan leaders currently being on trial were displayed on banners

Image copyright EPA Image caption Catalonia's regional government president Quim Torra (right) and his predecessor Artur Mas (left) were at the rally

Hundreds of buses were laid on to bring demonstrators to Madrid from Catalonia and other regions.

The protesters then marched from the Atocha train station to the Plaza de Cibeles.

There have been no reports of any violence.

What's the background to this?

The semi-autonomous north-eastern region of Catalonia held an independence referendum on 1 October 2017, and declared its independence from Spain weeks later.

Spanish authorities declared the Catalan vote illegal, and the national government imposed direct rule.

Spain's 1978 constitution speaks of "the indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation".

The Catalonia crisis is considered the most serious to hit Spain since the era of fascist dictator Francisco Franco, who died in 1975.</s>A huge crowd of demonstrators has rallied in Spain's capital, Madrid, in a major show of support for 12 Catalan politicians and activists standing trial for their role in organising a failed independence bid in 2017.

Amid heavy police presence, nearly 400 buses on Saturday carried people from across the northeastern region of Catalonia to attend the gathering, the first major separatist march held in Madrid.

In unusual scenes for the capital, the central Paseo del Prado boulevard was steeped in red, yellow and blue, the colours of the Estelada flag of the Catalan independence movement.

"I think it's a fair judgement to say you've never heard the voice of Catalan independence spoken so loudly and with so many numbers here in Madrid," Al Jazeera's David Chater, reporting from the demonstration, said.

"There are two phrases that have been prominent here: that democracy is about taking decision and that self-determination is a right a not a crime."

Protest organisers put the turnout at 120,000 while police gave a figure of 18,000, according to Reuters news agency.

The defendants face decades in prison on rebellion and other charges for staging a banned referendum in October 2017 and declaring Catalan independence, although they took no action to implement that.

They went on trial at Spain's Supreme Court in mid-February. Many of their supporters believe the defendants are "political prisoners".

According to court filings, the defendants' lawyers intend to claim that the Catalan separatists are being prosecuted for their Catalan nationalist political beliefs and the act of voting.

Most of the politicians standing trial come from two political parties: the Catalan Republican Left (ERC) and the centrist Catalan European Democratic Party (PDeCAT).

Leaders of the Catalan National Assembly (ANC) and Omnium Cultural (OC) - two pro-independence civil society organisations - also stand trial.

The 2017 vote registered a majority of Catalans voting in favour of independence but many people had boycotted the plebiscite, which Spain's Supreme Court had labelled illegal.</s>Thousands of Catalan separatist supporters marched in Madrid on Saturday in protest over the ongoing trial of 12 separatist leaders who face up to 25-year-prison sentences for their role in the failed independence bid.

The demonstration through Spain's capital was organised by two civil society groups the Catalan National Assembly (ANC) and Òmnium Cultural and led by Catalan leader Quim Torra.

Demonstrators waved the Catalan flag and marched under signs reading: “Self-determination is not a crime”.

Protest organisers said 120,000 attended the protest while police said there was a turnout of 18,000.

Twelve Catalan separatist leaders are currently on trial in Madrid over a range of allegations including rebellion and misuse of public funds for the failed independence bid in October 2017, which they deny.

The Catalan crisis is set to be monumental in the upcoming general election in April. Three right-leaning parties, the conservative People’s Party (PP), center-right Ciudadanos, and far-right Vox party have called on the government to take a tougher stance with separatists.

Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is also likely to need support from the Catalan parties as polls predict his PSOE party will win most seats but still fall short of a parliamentary majority.

Sanchez called the snap vote after he failed to get enough support for his draft budget. Back then, he was reliant on the Catalan pro-independent parties support for it to pass but they voted against it.</s>MADRID (Reuters) - Thousands of supporters of Catalan independence marched through central Madrid on Saturday in protest at the ongoing trial of 12 separatist leaders who face years in prison for their role in organising a failed independence bid from Spain in 2017.

Demonstrators, many who made the journey from the northwestern Catalonia region for the protest, waved Catalan flags and carried signs reading “Self-determination is not a crime”.

Protest organisers put the turnout at 120,000 while police gave a figure of 18,000.

Tensions between Madrid and Barcelona have thawed somewhat since the political crisis triggered by Catalonia’s independence declaration in late 2017 but the trial of 12 separatist leaders for their role in the secession bid and events leading up to it has been one of several sticking points to derail negotiations.

The 12 are on trial in Madrid on charges ranging from rebellion to misuse of funds, which they deny.

The Catalan crisis is set to play a major role in April 28 elections, with three right-leaning parties, the conservative People’s Party (PP), centre-right Ciudadanos and the relatively new far-right Vox party all calling for Spain to take a tougher position with separatists.

Polls show the support of Catalan parties may prove decisive if Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is to form a government after the vote. Most polls indicate Sanchez’s Socialists winning the most seats but falling short of a parliamentary majority.

Sanchez came to power by winning a confidence motion last year with the support of Catalan separatist parties but was unable to secure their backing for his budget, effectively dooming the project and leading him to call an early election.</s>Tens of thousands of supporters of Catalan independence have rallied in the Spanish capital Madrid in protest at an ongoing trial of 12 separatist leaders.

The leaders of Catalonia's failed 2017 independence bid face rebellion and sedition charges.</s>MADRID (AP) — Thousands of people marched Saturday in Madrid to support Catalan politicians and activists who are on trial for their attempts to secede from Spain in October 2017.

The nine defendants face decades in prison on rebellion and other charges for staging a banned independence referendum for the northeastern region and pushing ahead with an independence declaration that Madrid deemed unconstitutional.

Large pro-independence protests have filled the streets of Spain’s northeastern region of Catalonia and some European cities, but Saturday’s was the first major separatist march in the Spanish capital.

Organizers said 120,000 people attended, well beyond their expectations. Police put the number of marchers at around 18,000 and said no incidents were reported. It was not possible to reconcile the different crowd estimates.

A banner reading “Self-determination is not a crime” opened the demonstration, with Catalan politicians leading the way. Speaking to reporters at the scene, Catalonia’s regional president said the march in Madrid was needed in order to decry a trial that he described as a “farce.”

Many separatists in Catalonia believe the defendants in the Supreme Court case are political prisoners who are being tried for their ideas. Spain says the judicial process is fair and that its courts are fully independent from the government.

The trial is about to enter the fifth week of hearings. The proceedings in Madrid are being closely followed across the country, with media broadcasting live lengthy testimonies by defendants and witnesses and radios hosting in-depth debates about prosecution strategies.

A sentence is not expected until after Spain’s April 28 general election.

The issue of Catalan independence versus Spanish unity is a major topic for voters. The failed Catalan independence declaration in 2017 set off Spain’s most serious constitutional crisis in decades.</s>Tens of thousands of supporters of Catalan independence have rallied in Spain's capital Madrid in protest at an ongoing trial of 12 separatist leaders.

Many waved Catalan flags and had placards reading "Self-determination is not a crime".

Protest organisers said 120,000 people marched in Madrid. Spanish police put the number at just 18,000.

The separatist leaders of Catalonia's failed 2017 independence bid face rebellion and sedition charges.

If convicted, some could face up to 25 years in prison.

The rally was organised by more than 60 civil society groups from all over Spain.

Hundreds of buses were laid on to bring demonstrators to Madrid from Catalonia and other regions.

The protesters then marched from the Atocha train station to the Plaza de Cibeles.

There have been no reports of any violence.

What's the background to this?

The semi-autonomous north-eastern region of Catalonia held an independence referendum on 1 October 2017, and declared its independence from Spain weeks later.

Spanish authorities later declared the Catalan vote illegal, and the national government imposed direct rule.

Spain's 1978 constitution speaks of "the indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation".

The Catalonia crisis is considered the most serious to hit Spain since the era of fascist dictator Francisco Franco, who died in 1975.</s>MADRID (AP) - Tens of thousands are marching in Madrid to support Catalan politicians and activists standing trial for their attempt to secede from Spain.

The nine defendants face decades in prison on rebellion and other charges for staging a banned referendum in October 2017 and declaring Catalan independence, although they took no action to implement that.

Many supporters believe the defendants are "political prisoners."

Large pro-independence protests have been staged in Spain's northeastern region and in some European cities, but Saturday's is the first major separatist march in the Spanish capital.

Organizers expect 50,000 protesters, most of them traveling from Catalonia in some 500 buses.

A banner reading "self-determination is not a crime" opened the march.

Catalan pro-independence demonstrators hold "estelada," or separatist flags, as they arrive to Madrid, Spain, Saturday, March 16, 2019. Demonstrators made their way to Spain's capital to show support for former regional politicians who they consider political prisoners and are the defendants in an ongoing trial related to 2017 independence push. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Authorities in Madrid have deployed more than 500 police officers including riot police.</s>Thousands of Catalan separatists took to the streets of the Spanish capital Saturday to denounce the prosecution of 12 of their leaders, on trial for their part in the failed 2017 independence bid.

Police estimated that some 18,000 people marched through the city centre, the first such demonstration by Catalan separatists in Madrid since 2012.

Many of the protesters carried the red-and-yellow striped flag of Catalonia, and a banner at the front of the march read: “Self-determination is not a crime”.

The separatists denounce the court case mounted against the regional politicians as a politically motivated show trial.

Nine of the 12 on trial at Madrid’s Supreme Court face up to 25 years in jail on charges of rebellion and other offences for pushing a secession bid referendum in October 2017 in defiance of a court ban, and for a brief declaration of independence.

The moves sparked Spain’s deepest political crisis since the transition to democracy in the 1970s after the death of dictator Francisco Franco.</s>Tens of thousands of Catalan independence supporters are due to march through central Madrid on Saturday to renew their call for a vote on seceding from Spain.

The demonstration has been organised by two powerful civil society groups, the Catalan National Assembly (ANC) and Òmnium Cultural, around the slogan: “Self-determination is not a crime. Democracy is about deciding.”

Hundreds of coaches have been laid on to bring people to the capital from Catalonia andother parts of Spain.

A heavy police presence will be in place to ensure the event goes ahead peacefully and that possible confrontations with far-right groups bitterly opposed to Catalan independence are avoided.

Many members of Catalonia’s pro-independence regional government are due to attend the march, including the president, Quim Torra.

Torra’s predecessor, Carles Puigdemont, will not be in Madrid. He was sacked by the Spanish government after organising the unilateral independence referendum in October 2017, and is living in self-imposed exile in Belgium after fleeing Spain to avoid arrest.

Twelve of the pro-independence Catalan leaders who remained in Spain are currently on trial in Madrid over their alleged roles in the events that culminated in the staging of the referendum and the subsequent unilateral declaration of independence.

Puigdemont offered his solidarity to two of them, Jordi Sànchez, a regional MP and former president of the ANC, and Jordi Cuixart, the leader of Òmnium Cultural.

“Thank you for your steadfastness and dignity, Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart,” he tweeted on Saturday. “Today in Madrid there will be a representation of a people that progresses in peace and solidarity, which wants more and better democracy, and which demands its right to exist and to be respected. Today will be a memorable day!”

Nine of those on trial, who include the former Catalan vice-president Oriol Junqueras and the former speaker of the Catalan parliament Carme Forcadell, are accused of rebellion, which carries a prison sentence of up to 25 years. Other charges include sedition and the misuse of public funds.
Thousands of demonstrators protest in Madrid against the trial of Catalan independence leaders and the ongoing detention of some of them. Local police say around 18,000 protestors were involved; organisers claim almost 120,000.