Image copyright EPA Symbol caption Ms Rivas grew to become herself in after hiding together with her two boys
A Spanish mother who went into hiding together with her two sons in preference to hand them over to their father, whom she accused of abuse, has been sentenced to 5 years in jail via a Spanish courtroom.
Juana Rivas has additionally been stripped of custody rights for six years and advised to pay hefty legal costs.
Spanish politicians and women’s groups have criticised the verdict.
The long-running custody fight has become a rallying point in Spain’s fight against gender violence.
What did Rivas do?
She took the boys, now aged 12 and four, from the circle of relatives house in Italy in 2016, and travelled to Spain under the pretext of traveling family.
Image copyright Getty Images Symbol caption Mr Arcuri has denied any allegations of abuse – including the cases surrounding his previous conviction
Her actions become a social media sensation in Spain, where #JuanaEstáEnMiCasa (Juana is in my area) used to be an immense pattern as she have shyed away from authorities.
She ultimately became herself in and the youngsters were reunited with their father.
What did the courtroom rule?
The courtroom within the southern town of Granada said Rivas had no evidence of domestic violence and had illegally taken her kids from their father.
She had “exploited the argument of abuse” and had performed “child abduction”, the judgement stated.
Her former partner, Italian Francesco Arcuri has a previous conviction for violence towards Ms Rivas.
But in spite of this the courtroom said there was no proof of mistreatment when you consider that then and an overview of the oldest kid confirmed no signs of psychological trauma consistent with abuse.
What response has there been?
Rivas’s lawyer has referred to as the judgement a “failure of the judicial system” and indicated she may attraction in opposition to the decision.
Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister Carmen Calvo has mentioned that Rivas will not be jailed till the sentence is confirmed.
“The interests of the 2 kids have to be protected, even in those moments,” she said.
Antonio Maíllo, head of a left-wing federation of parties in the southern Andalucia area, stated the decision used to be “barbaric” and set a being concerned precedent.
Image copyright Getty Photographs Symbol caption The case divided public opinion in Spain, with some supporters on all sides
“This usa has changed however the judiciary is wearing on with outmoded parameters,” he said.
The president of the Progressive Women’s Foundation, Yolanda Besteiro, instructed Spain’s Efe information agency that the ruling used to be disproportionate “since the state of affairs of mistreatment was now not taken into consideration”.
She said the ruling “demonstrates the shortage of empathy and lack of expertise of what gender violence is and the way abusers behave”.
Some teams are making ready demonstrations, in a transfer reminiscent of the popular protests over the infamous “wolf pack” sexual assault case in Pamplona.
What does the father say?
Mr Arcuri denies any abuse of either Rivas or the kids and says he has been the sufferer of a media campaign.
He has a previous conviction for violence against Rivas on one occasion in 2009 – however he now says he most effective admitted to the charge to circumvent a long felony fight and hold traveling rights together with his son.
The couple reunited after that incident and had a 2d son.
Mr Arcuri’s former partner of 10 years also got here to his defence closing year, telling Spanish media she didn’t imagine the abuse allegations.
