Spain’s Council of Ministers have agreed to send a US extradition request for Fergie Chambers to judicial review.

This procedural step keeps the pro-Palestine American activist in a Madrid prison, separated from his wife and children, as the case moves through the Spanish courts.

Following the verdict, freelance journalist Calla Walsh, who has been covering the case, told the Ca**nary:

Fergie should be free right now, with his wife and children, continuing his activism for Palestine.

Today Spain had the chance to assert their sovereignty and stop Trump’s political persecution here and now, and instead, unfortunately, they chose to prolong Fergie’s imprisonment and forced separation from his family and comrades by allowing the extradition request to proceed.

However, the case is not over yet, and we need to escalate our international pressure to free Fergie and all political prisoners.

Chambers is a well known donor and activist committed to Palestinian causes.

Spanish political parties previously submitted a letter demanding the government refuse Chambers’ extradition, warning that solidarity with Palestine must not be criminalised as terrorism.

Fergie Chambers’ extradition sets ‘dangerous precedent’

Chambers’ legal team is led by Baltasar Garzón, a prominent Spanish human rights lawyer and former judge, who previously represented Julian Assange.

In a statement following the Council of Ministers’ decision, Garzón said:

We must respect the decision of the Council of Ministers. However, it sets a dangerous precedent regarding the defence of the Palestinian cause and, in practice, represents a clear inconsistency with the government’s position.

Spain cannot defend international law, the rights of the Palestinian people, and the protection of those who provide humanitarian aid while at the same time allowing a request to proceed with an extradition that shows clear signs of political persecution by the US government, as it is directed against an individual because of his political activity and solidarity with Palestine.

Chambers’ partner, Stella Schnabel, who is just over three months pregnant, said she was devastated by the decision. The couple also have a young son.

Schnabel said:

I am heartbroken. We know that this decision is procedural and not based on any assessment of the US government’s allegations against Fergie. We have faith that the Spanish courts and, ultimately, the Spanish government will refuse to participate in Fergie’s political persecution.

But the decision today to continue this process sends a deeply disturbing message: even in Spain, solidarity with the Palestinian people could be treated as a crime. It risks extending the Trump administration’s repression of pro-Palestine and progressive movements into Europe, setting a dangerous precedent for others.

On 10 July, six Spanish police vehicles surrounded Chambers’ car while he drove through Ibiza with his family before detaining him.

According to the Grayzone, Chambers is an heir to the Cox family fortune and sold his stake in Cox Enterprises in 2023 for an estimated $250 million. It goes on to say that Chambers has since donated more than $1 million to humanitarian projects supporting those impacted by the Gaza genocide and pro-Palestine activist groups.

The sealed indictment offers no evidence that he donated to “foreign terrorist organizations”, citing only transfers from US banks to Tunisia, where he relocated in late 2023, Grayzone added.

Featured image via Air Mail

By The Canary

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