an open letter from several members of all parties in the uk parliament expressed their concern "by the measures taken by the spanish government to prevent the referendum". an additional open letter from over a hundred academics of law, human rights and related subjects from the uk and ireland expressed the same level of concern about the fact "that the level of political repression in catalonia is of a severity and arbitrary character not experienced since the franco dictatorship". the regional council of sardinia also unanimously approved a motion on 21 september 2017 expressing solidarity with catalonia and offering to print and store the necessary ballots for the referendum while asking the international community to intervene and ensure that catalans could vote and decide on their self-determination.