The first victim of Franco's torture to testify before the Prosecutor's Office: "Young people should know what happened."

BarcelonaThe philologist Blanca Serra, that with his sister, the historian Eva Serra (who died in 2018), who went to the Via Laietana police station four times—in February 1977, July 1980, December 1981, and March 1982—made it clear this Monday at the City of Justice that she doesn't intend to give up, but also that she's not very optimistic.

"Today is a great day for memory," said the historic independence activist, accompanied by representatives of memorial organizations. She is a pioneer, because she is the first victim of torture by Franco's Via Laietana police to have her voice heard by Barcelona's Memory Prosecutor, Sara Gómez Expósito. "Today is an important day for young people to know what happened, what is happening, and what may happen. It is also an important day to raise awareness about the issue of women and the gender persecution that has existed and continues to exist. It is important to report it to justice," said Serra, who is 82 years old. Upon leaving the courtroom after testifying, Serra emphasized the importance of younger generations knowing how people fought to achieve certain rights. "It was a very strange situation. I was always in the dock, and now I've testified as the accuser," she said.

Access the documentation

Serra's complaint is the first to be filed directly with the Memory Prosecutor's Office and not in the courts, which have always blocked any attempt to investigate the crimes of the Franco regime. Until now, it has been impossible to access police reports and court documents, and this is intended to open a path for investigation. The Prosecutor's Office will have to decide which investigations to open and whether, ultimately, to file a petition in court. "It's a new situation for me and the Prosecutor's Office. I don't have much confidence that we'll achieve anything, but it may influence the current situation. It's intolerable that they think that torturers and those tortured can share a building," Serra said, referring to The Spanish government's proposal to convert the Via Laietana police station into a memorial post, but with the police inside.Irídia's lawyers consider this "an exceptional step." Unlike other cases, a thorough investigation will be launched and the names of those involved will be known. The victims have been providing testimony for many years about everything that happened to them, but if the Prosecutor's Office conducts the investigation, there will be documentation that will prove the facts.

"Today is a historic day, because for the first time a torture survivor is testifying before the Memory Prosecutor's Office. We hope for justice, a justice that comes too late, because many people are no longer here, like Eva Serra, Blanca's sister. There is still a lot of work to be done, it's not finished!" Franquesa, who represents her legally. "These are crimes against humanity and do not have a statute of limitations, because they are the result of systematic torture by a dictatorial regime, and they must be investigated, tried and convicted if we want to live in full justice," Franquesa added.

Xavier Antich, president of Òmnium Cultural, said that "it is truly a historic day." "This new judicial initiative is taking advantage of the gap to bring to justice these crimes that do not have a statute of limitations and that for more than 50 years Spain has been trying to bury in oblivion and forgetfulness. "It's necessary to start talking about it and to talk about it where it's necessary, which is in court," said the president of Ò.

While she was detained, Serra never had the right to a lawyer. In an interview with ARA She explained that when she said she wanted a lawyer, the police officer hit her: "He shouted back that he was my lawyer, and slapped me so hard I was sent flying across the room." Serra lamented that women suffered particular harassment and that the humiliation and violence worsened with age. "They no longer believed we had a secondary role, and they systematically humiliated us. They made me strip and made comments about my body. I've always wondered what these torturers were like at home, how they treated their mothers or sisters. I don't think they treated them very well," Serra explained.