Spanish court halts exhumations of Civil War dead from Francoist mausoleum

A police vehicle passes a sign informing visitors that the 'Valley of the Fallen' monument, now known as Valley of Cuelgamuros, is closed to the general public as forensic scientists begin work to remove the remains of 128 victims of the Spanish Civil War who are buried at the site, near Madrid, Spain, June 12, 2023. REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura/File Photo

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's High Court on Monday ordered a temporary stop to exhumations of Spanish Civil War victims from a Francoist mausoleum after the granddaughter of one victim said the disinterment work could lead to the desecration of her ancestor's remains.

The exhumations are the first involving people whose bodies were moved from other parts of Spain after the 1936-1939 war and reburied without their families' consent in a sprawling monument built by dictator Francisco Franco in the Valley of Cuelgamuros, 50km (31 miles) northwest of Madrid.