Nae Pasaran, Resisting Fascism and Defending Democracy

That the Parliament recognises the 90th anniversary of the military coup that began on 17 July 1936 in Spanish Morocco and, on the following day, spread to mainland Spain, marking the beginning of the Spanish Civil War; notes that the coup sought to overthrow the democratically elected Second Spanish Republic, whose programme included rural land reform, secular education and the extension of rights, including women's suffrage; acknowledges that workers, trade unionists, loyal members of the armed forces and police, and ordinary citizens resisted the coup in many towns and cities in defence of democracy; notes that the conflict lasted almost three years and that the rebel forces received extensive military support from Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, while the Republican Government was constrained by the policy of non-intervention adopted by the UK Government and other European powers; recognises the solidarity shown by the tens of thousands of volunteers of the International Brigades from more than 50 countries; pays particular tribute to the more than 500 volunteers from Scotland who travelled to Spain to defend democracy and oppose fascism, many of whom never returned and remain buried on Spanish soil; remembers all those who lost their lives in the struggle against fascism and dictatorship; reaffirms the Parliament's commitment to democracy, international solidarity and opposition to fascism in all its forms; believes in the importance of challenging and opposing fascism wherever it arises, and declares, in honour of those who stood against Franco's coup and in enduring solidarity with all who resist fascism, "¡No Pasarán!"