COMING HOME: So far 19 ETA terrorists have been transferred home

THE fate of 256 jailed terrorists is causing controversy in Spain.

A campaign to allow members of the ETA separatist group to be relocated nearer to their Basque Country homes has split public opinion, with terrorism victims condemning the move.

Since coming to power last June, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has promised to reverse an official government policy to keep jailed ETA members in prisons across Spain. Family members of prisoners, 46 of whom are in jail in France, and one of whom in in Portugal, claim moving nearer to their homes will assist their eventual reintegration into society.

Some critics and relatives of the estimated 853 ETA victims are resisting the decision, however, arguing the prisoners should show remorse and renounce any links to ETA before being allowed to move closer to home.

Since Pedro Sanchez announced his new policy, 19 ETA prisoners have been transferred back to the Basque Country, however, only two of these had publicly given up any links to the terrorist group.