How Catalonia Pulled Off Its Independence Vote from Spain Using “Pizza” Code Words and Secret Schemes
Organizers in Catalonia used unconventional tactics to organize a referendum in the face of a heavy crackdown from the central Spanish government.
Zach Campbell
Zach Campbell is a journalist based in Barcelona, Spain. His work has appeared in Atavist Magazine, The Guardian, Politico Europe, and other outlets.
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How a Dubious CIA Document Is Fueling Tensions in Catalonia
A questionable U.S. intelligence report published in Spain has inflamed debate in the run-up to Sunday's Catalonian independence referendum.
Italy Imprisons Refugees Who Were Forced to Pilot Smuggling Boats at Gunpoint
Zealous anti-smuggling investigations in Italy put refugees in prison merely for driving a rubber boat or holding a compass, tactics that catch few real traffickers.
New Evidence Undermines EU Report Tying Refugee Rescue Group to Smugglers
The EU’s border agency, Frontex, says people were smuggled on an NGO’s ship, but the account is countered by the crew and video evidence.
Europe Keeps Its Rescue Ships Far From the Coast of Libya — Where Thousands of Refugees Have Drowned
Documents detail how the EU’s border agency, Frontex, withdrew its patrols from the area where most refugee boats capsize. Nonprofits are scrambling to fill the gaps.
Bulgaria Welcomes Refugees With Attack Dogs and Beatings
Bulgaria’s border police engage in routine violence to deter asylum seekers and expel them from Bulgarian territory. Unless the refugees pay.
Coast Guard Fired at Migrant Boats, European Border Agency Documents Show
A collection of incident reports from Frontex, obtained by <em>The Intercept</em>, reveals a Greek and European tactic of using weapons to stop boats driven by suspected smugglers — and injuring or killing refugees in the process.