Santi Palacios/Associated Press
A woman carries a Catalan flag during a protest in Barcelona against Spain's alleged confiscation of ballot boxes and charges on unarmed civilians during the September 25 referendum.
Their future, however, remains in limbo. Both the Iraqi and Spanish governments have strongly opposed moves for independence and refuse to recognize the legitimacy of the Catalan and Kurdish people's votes.
As Spain and Iraq brace for the coming legal battles over their respective referendums, other independence, or "separatist" movements, continue to unfold around the world.
In fact, dozens of regions are currently calling for greater autonomy or complete independence in Europe alone. Here are some of the world's biggest (and longest) active independence movements: