On September 27, 1975, the last shots of the Franco regime were fired in Spain. On that day, five young people linked to FRAP and ETA were executed in different parts of the country. Among them was the youngest, José Humberto Baena, whose name, decades later, is once again in the spotlight.
The executions came as no surprise to those following the dying days of the dictatorship. The authorities tried to demonstrate strength, but instead only highlighted the helplessness of the aging regime. The international response was immediate: even Pope Paul VI appealed to Franco for clemency, and governments across Europe and America tried to intervene. But the machinery of repression could not be stopped.
Baena was accused of murdering a police officer, although there were inconsistencies in the case. On the night before the crime, he was at the border, a fact confirmed by witnesses, but these details did not influence the verdict. Baena’s silence in police custody sparked speculation that he might have been protecting someone. His sister Flor spent almost half a century trying to prove her brother’s innocence, gathering documents, testimonies, and letters. The family endured not only the loss but also persecution—their home was set on fire and collected evidence was destroyed.
After the execution, Baena’s body was not returned to his family for a long time, and the funeral was held under police supervision. His father never knew for sure whether his son was really buried in the grave. It was only in August 2024 that the Spanish government officially declared Baena’s conviction unlawful and rehabilitated his name. For Flor, this became long-awaited confirmation: the struggle had not been in vain, even though bringing her brother back was no longer possible.
Baena’s story is just one of many tragedies left in the wake of the dictatorship. In the years following the executions, Spain knew no peace: political killings, fear, and violence marked the transition to democracy. But the memory of those who fell victim to the regime has not disappeared. Today, universities name lecture halls after the deceased, and their relatives continue to seek justice. The restoration of Baena’s honor has become a symbol for many families whose lives were shattered in those years.
