Two men arrested in the Basque Country on suspicion of collaborating with Hezbolá have been provisionally released after a judicial error exposed sensitive details of the investigation. José Luis Calama, head of Basic Investigating Court No. 4 of Spain’s National Court, made the decision after their arrests in Bilbao and Getxo on June 16, 2026. A later report by Libertad Digital identified them as Asier Herranz and Youssef Brahim.
The arrests followed the mistaken publication of a judicial document detailing the ongoing investigation on the website of the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ). The document did not name the suspects, but included enough information to identify them, including the name of a Telegram chat and their towns of residence. Fearing the suspects might destroy evidence, police accelerated their operation.
After appearing before Calama, both men were provisionally released under precautionary measures. Their passports were withdrawn, and they were barred from leaving Spain. They must also report to court every 15 days. The measures do not amount to an acquittal or dismissal; the investigation remains open, and no final judgment has established the allegations.
Both men are known activists involved with Iranekin Bat, described as a Basque committee supporting Iran, and Samidoun, a group advocating for Palestinian prisoners. Their detention sparked protests outside one of their homes and drew criticism from political figures, including Podemos leader Ione Belarra, who publicly demanded their release. Libertad Digital also reported that the PSOE had made a municipal public space available for a planned talk about pro-Palestinian activism involving Herranz and Brahim. That added a public and political dimension to the case as the investigation continued.
Police suspect the men of collaborating with Hezbolá, which the European Union has classified as a terrorist organization since 2013. Investigators allege that the suspects maintained contact with Hezbolá leaders and sent funds. They also accuse them of distributing propaganda through a Telegram channel with more than 9,000 followers. Libertad Digital identified the men as administrators of a channel called Frontflict and said the police allegations concerned propaganda linked to armed Palestinian and Lebanese groups. The channel reportedly shared pro-terrorist content related to Hezbolá and Palestinian armed groups, including the Al Aqsa Brigades and Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades. The investigation began a year ago, after police identified the Telegram group and linked it to the two men. They had traveled to Lebanon multiple times and allegedly attended a funeral for Hezbolá leader Hasan Nasralá in February 2025.
Scrutiny intensified three months ago, when international police services reported that one suspect had been in contact with a person detained over a non-lethal attack on the US embassy in Oslo. Spanish investigators, backed by the prosecutor’s office, requested search warrants for the suspects’ homes. Judge Calama initially denied the request, citing a lack of objective evidence. The National Court’s Criminal Chamber later overturned that decision and authorized the searches, citing large evidence of possible membership in or financing of a terrorist organization.
The operation was originally scheduled for later in June, but police were forced to act immediately after Cendoj, the CGPJ’s official documentation center, leaked the judicial resolution. The document remained online days later, raising law enforcement concerns that the suspects may have had time to erase incriminating material. The Telegram channel had been cleared of its previous content. Only a statement remained, rejecting terrorism and violence and claiming that all earlier posts were for geopolitical observation.
During the searches, police seized a impressive amount of material and electronic devices, which are now under analysis. The case has exposed vulnerabilities in the handling of confidential judicial information and the difficulty authorities face in balancing investigative secrecy with procedural transparency.
The EU has designated Hezbolá’s military wing a terrorist organization since 2013. Spain’s legal structure requires concrete evidence of criminal activity for terrorism charges, not ideological sympathy alone. The case has also renewed attention to the difference between precautionary restrictions during an investigation and a final finding of criminal liability.
