Spanish court blocks prison benefits for three former ETA members

Spain’s National Court blocked prison benefits for three former ETA members after considering appeals by prosecutors.

The prisoners are Soledad Iparraguirre, known as Anboto, and Juan Antonio Olarra Guridi and Arkaitz Aguirregabiria.

The court rejected a proposal to let Iparraguirre leave prison on weekdays for volunteer work, saying there were no significant new reasons to ease her conditions.

It also reversed the third-degree classifications granted to Olarra Guridi and Aguirregabiria by the Basque government.

Both can still use a more flexible prison regime, but the judge said they need more time to show that their progress towards rehabilitation is established.

The decisions concern people convicted of serious terrorist crimes, including murders, and reverse some prison measures granted by the Basque authorities.

For now, the two men keep their existing flexible regime, while Iparraguirre remains under her current prison conditions.