Protest at UK's "Guantanamo Bay"
Raif | 04.04.2004 21:24 | Anti-racism | Repression | Social Struggles | London
Over 200 people gathered from noon, Sunday 4 April, outside Belmarsh Prison in south east London to protest against the indefinite internment of 14 people and to demand the repeal of the UK's anti-terrorism laws.
Protesters look towards Belmarsh Prison
Over 200 people gathered from noon, Sunday 4 April, outside Belmarsh Prison in south east London to protest against the indefinite internment of 14 people and to demand the repeal of the UK's anti-terrorism laws.
A wide range of people were present, from Muslim leaders to Sambatistas, from Green Party activists (including the deputy mayor of London and a London MEP) to Turkish communists, from Lawyers to anti-racism campaigners. Besides a number of speeches there was also samba, theatre and an MC doing poetry.
The detainees have been held at Belmarsh without charge or trial for over two years and many are losing hope and their minds. After two minutes silence in solidarity with the detainees, as much noise as possible was made by those present so that those inside could hear they had not been forgotten by the outside world.
The demonstration was against such detentions anywhere in the world. Belmarsh prison has been described as the UK's own Guantanamo Bay, in fact the Government had to "opt out" of the European Convention on Human Rights before interning people there. Other countries will now follow this authoritarian example set by the UK, which likes to style itself as the home of justice an the rule of law, despite its blatant disregard for justice and fundamental freedoms.
The website of the Campaign Against Criminalising Communities has much more info
www.cacc.org.uk
"Protest over Belmarsh detentions"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3596779.stm
A wide range of people were present, from Muslim leaders to Sambatistas, from Green Party activists (including the deputy mayor of London and a London MEP) to Turkish communists, from Lawyers to anti-racism campaigners. Besides a number of speeches there was also samba, theatre and an MC doing poetry.
The detainees have been held at Belmarsh without charge or trial for over two years and many are losing hope and their minds. After two minutes silence in solidarity with the detainees, as much noise as possible was made by those present so that those inside could hear they had not been forgotten by the outside world.
The demonstration was against such detentions anywhere in the world. Belmarsh prison has been described as the UK's own Guantanamo Bay, in fact the Government had to "opt out" of the European Convention on Human Rights before interning people there. Other countries will now follow this authoritarian example set by the UK, which likes to style itself as the home of justice an the rule of law, despite its blatant disregard for justice and fundamental freedoms.
The website of the Campaign Against Criminalising Communities has much more info
www.cacc.org.uk
"Protest over Belmarsh detentions"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3596779.stm
Raif
Homepage:
http://www.cacc.org.uk
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