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Animal rights activists arrested at gun point and held on trumped up charges
UPDATE
September 2, 2008 - The Austrian activists have today all been freed! Every letter, petition and demo you participated in has had a direct impact on the campaign to demand justice and is greatly appreciated! Many thanks!
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June 18, 2008 - In moves aimed at silencing the highly successful Austrian animal rights movement, police last month carried out early morning raids at the homes of activists throughout Austria, smashing down doors and detaining people at gunpoint.
Ten activists have been detained in prison since May 21, charged with 'suspected forming of a criminal organisation in connection with direct animal right actions'. The charges are absurd as no evidence of an criminal offence could be proved against any of the arrested persons; they were arrested purely on suspicion. Apparently only being engaged in animal right activities for some years was enough reason to arrest them.
MORE INFORMATION
One of the arrested, Dr Martin Balluch, who has been on a life threatening hunger strike for nearly one month in protest against the arrests, said in a statement: 'This scandal cannot be tolerated. I ask everyone who cares about animal protection and human rights to take action now to prevent this crime. This kind of police arbitrariness is something we might recognize in dictatorships, but not in a democracy. Please stand up strong; stand against this outrageous injustice.'
(1) PROTEST TO THE AUSTRIAN AUTHORITIES
It is important that pressure is put on the Austrian Government from all around the world. The Austrian group "Association Against Animal Factories" has set up an action page where you can help the jailed activists with the click of a mouse by sending letters to the Austrian government and signing a petition.
(2) SEND A SUPPORT LETTER TO THE PRISONERS
You can send a support letter to the prisoners by e-mailing the Austrian Vegan Society - info@vegan.at. They will print your letters and pass them on to the prisoners - Sabine, Jan, Martin, Jürgen,
Christoph, Chis, Elmar, Felix, Leo and Kevin. |
