Basque people

:This article is about the Basque people. For other meanings, see Basque.

Issues of Persecution

Both Spain and France have, at times, tried to suppress Basque linguistic and cultural identity. France, the epitome of the nation state, has a long history of attempting the complete cultural absorption of ethnic minority groups. Spain has, at most points in its history, granted some degree of linguistic, cultural, and even political autonomy to its Basques, but under the regime of Francisco Franco, Spain actively attempted to suppress nearly all signs of nationality or ethnicity, going so far as to ban public use of Euskara.

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Today, the Basque Country within Spain enjoys an extensive cultural and political autonomy. Many schools in the region use Euskara as the primary language of education. According to the BBC "over 90% of Basque children are now enrolled in Euskara schools."

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