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censure in Belmarsh prison

Basque Campaign | 29.03.2005 20:09 | Repression

Belmarsh censures Fight Racism Fight Imperialism magazine

The Basque Political Prisoner, Inigo Makazaga, who is fighting against extradition to Spain and jailed at Belmarsh prison for 4 years, uses to receive the Magazine from Fight Racism, Fight Imperialism. Until now he has received the bulletin without any problem but the last number, arrived to Belmarsh this week, has been censured by the prison officers.

All the post has to be opened in front of the prisoners but in this case, officers has givento Inigo an empty envelope. On the envelope was written "racist contents". So Fight Racism, Fight Imperialism has been censured because the prison thinks it is a "racist" newspaper. Or is because they are afraid to prisoners can think?

Basque Campaign
- e-mail: basquecampaign@yahoo.co.uk

Comments

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writing details

29.03.2005 22:07

Can you post the addess of this prisoner and also the name of the governor - why not drop him a note to explain just what racism is; though do it politely as it is the prisoners and the solidarity groups who will suffer set backs.

FtP

Belmarsh Governor

30.03.2005 00:02


The governor of Belmarsh Prison is Geoff Hughes

His e-mail address is:  geoffrey.hughes@hmps.gsi.gov.uk

Please write to ask him to stop the censorship.

Thanks!

peace

Background

30.03.2005 09:59

This nonsense has happened before, ie ‘Fight Racism’ which is an anti-racist publication, being stopped in prison on the grounds it is ‘racist’. This stems from a mixture of deliberate attempt to ban anti-racist or progressive material and some prison staff being genuinely so thick that they think anything with ‘racism’ in the title must be racist!

In 2002 Chris Tierney, who is a prisoner in Erlestoke prison, successfully complained to the Prisons Ombudsman about this. His judgment is number 10622/02 and should be referred to in letters of complaint to Belmarsh, as should Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (freedom of expression), which has been held by courts to refer to prisoners receiving publications.

The postal address of Belmarsh is Western Way, Thamesmead, LONDON SE28 0EB

Nicki