In Aste Nagusia two years ago, Euskaltzale Arkaitz Zarraga held an unpleasant discussion with several Municipal Police officers. The young man, who was entitled to treatment in Euskera, asked to speak in Euskera and took home a fine of 900 euros for the application of the Moorish law, alleging lack of respect for the local police.
The judgment has arrived on 29 May and Zarraga has said: "The judgment of my case has come with the Bilbao Municipal Police! We have won! The judge has suspended the fines! Still the Spanish sentence! And the judgment of a strange judge, clearly. In this thread he has given more details.
- The sentence is firm! Of course, we will ask for the Basque version, but I am at least happy, but not satisfied. It is clear that this justice is not a justice for the Basques. The question is whether all administrations have to do the same. Some already have time to start changing! Anyway, especially in Bilbao, it is time to start squeezing from the town, up, from the periphery to the middle. Gora Bilboko Euskaldunak! Egurreeeeee," he said.
Arkaitz Zarraga appeared in the courts against the fine imposed on him and the officers stated that he had insulted them. In particular, one of the agents of the Municipal Police of Pamplona called him "puta chula" in Basque. That was one of the keys to the ruling, as Zarraga said in the trial that this was false, that he did not insult anyone and asked him again how that was said in Basque. The agents didn't know.
"If the fine were applied to those who have violated their right, things would start to change," Zarraga said in the interview we did in Argia with Eneka Álvarez.
Arkaitz Zarraga was born in Bilbao in 1972. She is currently director of the Basauri Municipal Euskaltegi. He holds a degree in Basque Philology, Sociolinguistics and Language Teaching. He is a Glottodidactic advisor at the UEU and is a member of the Hau Pittu Hau comparison.