A lot of Catalans were expecting exactly this. The Spanish tribunals are highly politicized and it's an area where there wasn't much reform after Franco died of

A lot of Catalans were expecting exactly this. The Spanish tribunals are highly politicized and it's an area where there wasn't much reform after Franco died of old age. My parents and other family members that grew under Franco warned everyone that this is how the Spain would react, so again, not that we didn't know. And they did it anyway. The trial was highly questionable, starting on how the judge was appointed (breaking default procedure), continuing with the lack of memory of all Spanish governmental officials, and ending with not letting the defenses show videos that directly contradicted the sworn deposition of armed forces. This will all be revisited in the European Tribunal for Human Rights, of course, and Spain will get a slap in the hand and Europe will move on. Technically speaking, as you say, they could have been charged with disobedience, as there was no violence, but you would rather have a death sentence for treason, I see...