Politics · Spain · 2 hrs ago
Cáritas tightens rules for ETA prisoners seeking social programmes
Cáritas tightened conditions for some ETA prisoners seeking to join its social programmes after a complaint from victims’ group Dignidad y Justicia.
The group had raised concerns about former ETA leader Soledad Iparraguirre, known as Anboto, and another ETA member taking part in programmes.
The dispute concerns Spain’s prison rule 100.2, which can give some prisoners in second grade access to many benefits available to prisoners in third grade if they have a reintegration plan.
Cáritas said volunteer work will not be considered in certain cases involving people serving serious prison sentences until the relevant authorities decide whether the rule applies.
The change is intended to ensure charity work is not used to support access to prison benefits.
Dignidad y Justicia welcomed the decision, while victims’ groups are also upset that the Basque government plans to stop sharing information with them about ETA prisoners’ moves to semi-open conditions.
Cáritas has tightened conditions for ETA members seeking to join its social-action programmes.
The change followed a complaint by the victims’ association Dignidad y Justicia.
Cáritas will not consider volunteer work linked to prison-rule Article 100.2 for people serving serious sentences until the competent authorities have decided whether to apply the rule.
Dignidad y Justicia had raised concerns about former ETA leader Soledad Iparraguirre, known as Anboto, and Igor Solana taking part in Cáritas programmes.
The article also reports that the Basque government plans to stop providing victims’ associations with information about ETA prisoners’ semi-release measures.
- Who
- Cáritas, after a complaint by the victims’ association Dignidad y Justicia.
- What
- Cáritas tightened the conditions for ETA prisoners seeking its social-action programmes.
- When
- The change was reported on 18 October 2026; Dignidad y Justicia sent its letter in September.
- Where
- The Diocese of San Sebastián and social-charity organisations linked to it.
- Why
- Dignidad y Justicia said volunteer work in Cáritas programmes was being used to support applications for prison benefits under Article 100.2.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Dignidad y Justicia sent a letter to Cáritas president Luis Ayala raising concerns about ETA members joining its social-action programmes.
Ayala met representatives of Dignidad y Justicia, who told him about alleged irregularities in the volunteer work.
El Mundo reported that Cáritas had tightened its conditions for participation in the programmes.
- Cáritas president
- Luis Ayala
- Victims’ association
- Dignidad y Justicia (DyJ)
- People named in the complaint
- Soledad Iparraguirre, known as Anboto, and Igor Solana
- Prison rule at issue
- Article 100.2 of the Prison Regulations
- Policy change
- Volunteer work linked to Article 100.2 will not be considered before competent authorities rule on its application
What people are saying
In cases of people sentenced to serious prison terms, when voluntary collaboration is linked to the application of Article 100.2 of the Prison Regulations, the Diocese of San Sebastián and the social-charity organisations linked to it will not consider that collaboration until the competent authorities have ruled on the application of the provision.
amnesties in disguise