LONDON'S Green Party MEP Jean Lambert condemned the government's detention without charge of 13 terrorism suspects at a protest outside Belmarsh prison, where they are being held, yesterday (Sunday, April 4th).
| Mrs Lambert told fellow
demonstrators: "It is deeply shameful that a Labour government should detain
people who have never been convicted or charged with any offence - for more than
two years in some cases. "Belmarsh has become Britain's Guantanamo - the only difference being that so few people are aware that this abuse of human rights is happening on our own soil." Mrs Lambert, who is a member of the European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee, added: "Our government had to opt out of part of the EU Human Rights Act in order to allow imprisonment without trial under the anti-terrorism act. |  |
"This is a disaster for democracy - the right to a fair trial should be unquestionable."
Over 150 supporters attended the rally at Belmarsh, which featured a theatre performance and live music. Messages of solidarity were collected to pass to the prisoners through their lawyers.
 | Other speakers at the rally included the human rights lawyer Gareth Peirce, Jenny Jones - London's green deputy mayor and Dr G. Siddiqui, leader of the Muslim Parliament. |
ENDS
Note to Editors
7 The protest was sponsored by Campaign Against Criminalising Communities (CAMPACC), Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers, Peace and Justice in East London, Pax Christi, Voices UK, City Circle, JustPeace, The Muslim Parliament of Great Britain, Association of Muslim Lawyers, The Green Party of England and Wales, Peace and Progress, Stop the War Coalition.
For more information please contact Ben or Katy on 020 7407 6280, 07973 823358 or at press@greenmeps.org.uk