Family of Miguel Hernández requests annulment of sentence
As reported earlier, the Spain’s 2007 Law of Historical Memory did not annul Francoist sentences, although it did, ambiguously, declare the tribunals that issued them to be “illegitimate.” As a result, it is now up to individual victims’ families to request actual legal annulments. After Andalucía’s request for an annulment in the case of Blas Infante, the “father of the Andalusian homeland,” the family of poet Miguel Hernández (1910-1942)–who supported the Spanish Republic, died in a Francoist prison shortly after the end of the Civil War, and whose centenary is celebrated this year–has also requested a revision of his death sentence, El País reports. Unlike previous requests for other individuals, the family will present new evidence to exonerate the poet. The family is supported by the poet Marcos Ana, who spent 23 years in Francoist prisons. For those interested, the transcript of Miguel Hernández’s interrogration is online, as is the new evidence: an exculpating letter by a local Falange leader. More here. Earlier Spanish coverage here.
The civil war lasted three years. The poet was in jail for a further three years. I wouldn’t define this as “shortly”, although it’s true that Marcos Ana was in jail for far longer. Perhaps that is taken as a benchmark.