Supreme Court to consider appeal of Batasuna's Otegi on Friday

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Lawyer for the defense of Otegi Jone Goirizelaia

The Supreme Court met Thursday to consider an appeal by the Basque leftist movement's most prominent politician against a conviction for praising terrorism. Nevertheless, panel members decided to keep on with their considerations on Friday.

Arnaldo Otegi, leader of the outlawed party Batasuna, was convicted in April 2006 over remarks he made at a rally in memory of a leader of the armed Basque group ETA on the 25th anniversary of his death.

Prosecutors say he in effect praised terrorism, which is a crime in Spain. Otegi appealed his conviction, which carried a 15-month jail term.

If the Supreme Court upholds the conviction, the case goes back to the National Court, the lower tribunal that issued the guilty verdict, for it to decide whether to send Otegi to jail or suspend the sentence. The latter is allowed under Spanish law for sentences of under two years.