Barcelona court investigates expulsion of singers from Sagrada Família

A Barcelona court has admitted a lawsuit filed by the legal entity Acció Cassandra regarding the expulsion of 600 singers from the Sagrada Família. The incident occurred on June 10 during the visit of Pope Leo XIV and the inauguration of the Tower of Jesus Christ. The lawsuit alleges illegal detention, prevarication, violation of fundamental rights, and ideological and national discrimination.

The judge has ordered the identification of the police commanders responsible for the operation and the collection of security footage from inside the basilica and public streets. The legal action follows reports that National Police and Mossos d'Esquadra removed the singers after some attempted to display 'estelades' (independence flags) and intended to sing 'Els Segadors', the Catalan national anthem.

In a separate development, the Assemblea Nacional Catalana (ANC) and other pro-independence entities have invited 150 of the affected singers to perform during the upcoming Diada celebrations on September 11. Their participation is intended as a recognition of those whose freedom of expression was limited during the papal visit.