“Dear @JunckerEU. Is this ‘respect for human dignity, freedom and democracy’?” Julian Assange mockingly inquires of Jean-Claude Juncker in a tweet, accompanied by a video footage of Spanish law enforcement agents forcibly dragging voters out of a polling station, knocking people off the steps at the entrance.

“Activate article 7 and suspend Spain from the European Union for its clear violation of Article 2,” Assange urged the European Commission leader, with links to the paragraphs attached to the post.

Read more

Article 2 describes values on which the Union was founded and are common to all its member states, with respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, as well as the rights of minorities, among them. Under Article 7, a state breaching these values can be deprived of certain rights, such as voting rights in the European Council.

READ MORE: Barcelona mayor: Over 460 injured, police must stop attacking ‘defenseless population’

The same video has been shared by Jordi Cuixart, head of the Omnium cultural center, which promotes Catalan language and culture. Cuixart also referred to article 7, appealing to the Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to note the part about “suspension of a member state which uses the military against the population.”

“Is it a proportionality @marianorajoy?” Cuixart tweeted.

In September, Rajoy said the central government was set to respond to the Catalan plebiscite “with reason, moderation and proportionality,” with the head of the region’s police Josep Lluis Trapero later voicing similar assurances.