prisons of shame

Khader Adnan is now for 66 days on hunger strike

kruitvat — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:59:42 +0000

Khader Adnan is now for 66 days on hunger strike against his detention without charge or trial…
In a letter he gave to his lawyers for public release, Adnan explained why he was on hunger strike:
‘The Israeli occupation has gone to extremes against our people, especially prisoners. I have been humiliated, beaten, and harassed by interrogators for no reason, and thus I swore to God I would fight the policy of administrative detention to which I and hundreds of my fellow prisoners fell prey … The only thing I can do is offer my soul to God, as I believe righteousness and justice will eventually triumph over tyranny and oppression. I hereby assert that I am confronting the occupiers not for my own sake as an individual, but for the sake of thousands of prisoners who are being deprived of their simplest human rights while the world and international community look on. It is time the international community and the UN support prisoners and force the State of Israel to respect international human rights and stop treating prisoners as if they were not humans’.

http://familiesfriendsassociation.blogspot.com/

http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/rana-baker/if-not-gov…

http://www.ism-france.org/

http://www.imemc.org/newswire/prisoners

Khader Adnan

kruitvat — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:23:42 +0000

The Israeli government will stop the movement for the liberation of Khader Adnan by spreading false promises.
—–
Despite the Announcement of a Deal Limiting Khader Adnan’s Detention, Addameer Reiterates its Urgent Concern for His Health

Ramallah, 21 February 2012 – Khader Adnan’s hearing at the Israeli High Court was cancelled today, 21 February 2012, only minutes before the hearing was to take place. On Khader’s 66th day of hunger strike in protest of his administrative detention and inhuman and degrading treatment by the Israeli authorities, one of Khader’s lawyers negotiated a deal with the Israeli military prosecutor that Khader will be released on 17 April instead of 8 May and that his administrative detention order will not be renewed. Addameer lawyer Samer Sam’an is actively working to gain permission to visit Khader to confirm whether or not he will continue with his hunger strike.

Khader previously stated to Addameer lawyers that though he was calling for his immediate and unconditional release, the minimum requirements he would consider for ending his hunger strike would be the guarantee that he would not receive a new administrative detention order and that his duration of detention would be considered from the date of his arrest on 17 December 2011 and not from the date that he received his administrative detention order on 8 January 2012. The provisions of the deal reached today as announced by the lawyer involved do meet these minimum requirements. However, if new “secret material,” upon which administrative detention is based, presents itself during the next two months, there would still be grounds for the renewal of his administrative detention order. This caveat is consistent with similar deals made in the past, in which Israeli officials leave the door open for re-arrests.

Addameer maintains that the fact that Israeli officials negotiated the duration of his detention, in addition to agreeing to an early release, reveals that there were no grounds for his administrative detention in the first place. His administrative detention order, as is the case with all other administrative detainees, is based on the alleged threat he poses to the “security of the State of Israel.” However, if Israeli officials agree that he will not be a threat on 17 April, as clear from today’s deal, he surely does not pose any threat today and his case provides further proof of Israel’s policy of arbitrary detention. Addameer reiterates its call for his immediate and unconditional release and the release of the 308 other administrative detainees.

Addameer’s main concern remains Khader’s health, in critical condition after over two months of hunger strike. Whether or not Khader continues his hunger strike, he must receive proper arrangements for observing his health condition, which will likely now have irreversible consequences. If he does decide to end his hunger strike, the potential complications from such a protracted hunger strike will require urgent and trusted care, which can only be provided if he is released.

Addameer continues to salute Khader Adnan for his incredible steadfastness in challenging Israel’s policy of holding Palestinians in detention without charge or trial, which is in violation of international law. Addameer further thanks all individuals and institutions who have chosen not to ignore the basic human rights violations being committed against Palestinian prisoners on a daily basis and who have expressed their explicit support for Khader and his fellow prisoners. The date set for Khader’s release, 17 April, ironically falls on Palestinian Prisoners’ Day, which will serve as a reminder of the thousands of other Palestinian political prisoners who remain in Israeli detention.

Follow Addameer’s campaigns to release all Prisoners at Risk and immediately Stop Administrative Detention.

http://www.addameer.org/etemplate.php?id=444

Terminally ill republican prisoner Brian Shivers

kruitvat — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:20:47 +0000

Statement from the Family & Friends of Republican prisoners, Maghaberry

20 February 2012

On Wednesday 15th February, terminally ill republican prisoner Brian Shivers was brutally assaulted by prison staff while attending Belfast City Hospital.

Brian was informed at lunch time that he had an appointment with his cystic fibrosis consultant and was taken from his cell to attend the appointment. He was forcibly strip searched before leaving Maghaberry and taken to Belfast City Hospital escorted by four screws. The prison van they were travelling in was followed by an RUC/PSNI Jeep with four RUC/PSNI personnel carrying rifles on-board.

When arriving at Belfast City Hospital they were met by other prison staff who had not travelled in the van. Brian was then escorted by eight or nine screws to an office to await his consultant’s arrival. During the wait there were two screws present, one of whom was handcuffed to Brian.

While waiting on his consultant Brian asked the screws present if he could have his consultation in private and he was told abruptly “No, we wont be leaving here” Brian told them that there was not much point in the consultation if he couldn’t speak to his consultant in private and pointed out that there was no windows and up to nine screws guarding him. At that point, one of the screws present elbowed Brian in the face and said: “that’s it you are going back to Maghaberry.” Brian was then trailed to the ground by the same screw with such force that the other screw who was handcuffed to him was brought down as well. He was then viciously assaulted and dragged out of the hospital in full view of members of the public. Brian was in complete agony due to the brutality he received. Throughout the return journey, Brian suffered excruciating pain from a slipped disc which was aggravated by the assault.

When he arrived back at Maghaberry he was met by a Governor who took a note from him of all that had happened during the hospital visit. Brian asked for painkillers and informed him that he wanted to phone his solicitor. Brian was then told that he would be strip searched again. Already bruised and battered and in excruciating pain due to the assault, Brian was forcibly strip searched by six screws. As a consequence, Brian was left in the holding cell unable to move. He repeatedly asked for painkillers which he never received.

Brian was then joined in the holding cell by a fellow republican prisoner, Brendan McConville, who was returning from court. Brendan, alarmed on seeing the state Brian was in, demanded that Brian be returned immediately to the wing. However, his requests were ignored. They both waited for up to an hour and then with Brendan’s assistance Brian was brought back to his cell.

Brian has been left with bruises on his face and body and his previous back injury has been severely aggravated. He has been left bed ridden and relies on assistance to move around. To add insult to injury, Brian has since been charged with assaulting the screw who instigated the attack.

The Family & Friends group refrained from commenting on this brutal attack to allow time for the full facts to emerge and to allow Brian’s legal team to prepare a case against Maghaberry.

We utterly condemn this brutal attack on a terminally ill republican prisoner and call for all those involved to be held accountable. We demand assurances from Maghaberry and David Ford that Brian will be able to attend his many future hospital appointments without fear of a repeat of the brutality inflicted upon him by the thuggish screws employed by Maghaberry.

Mandy Duffy PRO

Family & Friends of Republican Prisoners Maghaberry

http://familiesfriendsassociation.blogspot.com/2012/02/kh…

Palestinian prisoner Khader Adnan

kruitvat — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:12:15 +0000

Just read:

Palestinian prisoner Khader Adnan ends 66-day hunger strike as Israel agrees to April release

JERUSALEM Feb 21, 2012 — A Palestinian prisoner has ended his 66-day hunger strike over his detention without charge under a deal that will see him released in April, Palestinian and Israeli officials told AFP on Tuesday.

“The Israeli court decided to release Khader Adnan on April 17 and based on that he ended his hunger strike,” Palestinian prisoner affairs minister Issa Qaraqaa said.

Ofir Gendelman, a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said the agreement meant “if there’s no new evidence against him, he will be released from custody on April 17.”

Adnan’s lawyer Jawad Bulus also confirmed the deal, details of which were made public just hours before the Israeli Supreme Court was to hear an appeal against the prisoner’s detention without charge.

“There will be no extension of his administrative detention and he will be released on April 17,” Bulus told AFP.

The Israeli justice ministry confirmed that a deal had been signed, thereby ruling out the need for the hearing which had been due to start at 1300 GMT.

Adnan’s wife, Randa Mussa hailed the deal as a “victory” for her husband, whom medics said had lost more than 40% of his body weight over the past nine weeks.

“He forced the occupation to give in to his demands and I hope he returns safe to us,” she told AFP.

Adnan, 33, was detained on December 17 and began refusing food a day later to protest his detention without charge and his alleged mistreatment by interrogators.

His protest, already the longest hunger strike carried out by any Palestinian prisoner, has attracted international attention and thrown a spotlight on Israel’s use of administrative detention, a military procedure which allows suspects to be held without charge.

Israeli officials described Adnan as a “terrorist” from the radical Islamic Jihad movement, although he has never been charged with any offence, nor has any evidence against him been made public.

In January, a military court handed down a four-month administrative detention order against Adnan, which he appealed in an unusual court session earlier this month held at his hospital bed in northern Israel.

But a military court last week rejected his appeal, prompting Bulus to turn to Israel’s top court.

Doctors from Physicians for Human Rights-Israel who met with Adnan in recent days had warned that his health was failing and that he faced “immediate danger of death” if he continued to refuse food.

Rights groups have also condemned the conditions in which Adnan is being held at Ziv hospital in the northern town of Safed, where he is shackled to the bed by chains on both legs and on one arm.

His case has sparked demonstrations across the Palestinian territories, with thousands of people taking part in protests on Tuesday in the West Bank cities of Nablus, Jenin, Hebron and Ramallah. A protest was also scheduled in Gaza City.

In Ramallah, shops shut down as part of a general strike in solidarity with Adnan, and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails were also on hunger strike in support of the detainee.

Palestinian officials had warned that Adnan’s death in custody could spark a violent backlash, and a spokeswoman for the Israel Prisons Service said they were aware of the “implications” of such a development.

On Monday, Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat said he had sent a message to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and other top diplomats urging them to put pressure on Israel over the case.

“I asked them all to intervene in Adnan’s case. They must apply pressure on Israel to release him,” he told AFP.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/02/21/palestinian-priso…

Brendan Lillis: Amnesty International Northern Ireland

kruitvat — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:10:18 +0000

We vote for Justice and we call Amnesty International not to be selective in its fight for human rights.
We call Amnesty International to talk Justice Minister Ford about the release of Brendan Lillis on medical and humanitarian grounds.

Publish or comment:

Amnesty International USA Non-profit organisation · New York, New York https://www.facebook.com/amnestyusa?ref=ts

Amnesty International Government organisation · Worlds End Creek, South Australia, Australia https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amnesty-International/30320760152?ref=ts

Amnesty International-Ireland Non-governmental organisation (NGO) · Dublin, Ireland https://www.facebook.com/amnestyinternationalireland?ref=ts

Amnesty International Belgique Non-profit organisation · Brussels, Belgium https://www.facebook.com/amnestyBE?ref=ts

Amnesty International https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2204782184&ref=ts

Amnesty International Interest https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amnesty-International/107376439296877?ref=ts

Amnesty International – Italia https://www.facebook.com/AmnestyInternationalItalia

Amnesty International UK Non-profit organisation https://www.facebook.com/AmnestyUK

Amnesty International Northern Ireland
Non-profit organisation · Belfast, United Kingdom
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amnesty-International-Northern-Ireland/109850892443666?sk=wall

—

Photo: Justice Minister David Ford of Northern Ireland, participating to the Human Rights campaign ‘I vote for Justice’ of Amnesty International Northern Ireland.

- Friends of Brendan Lillis: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Friends.Of.Brendan.Lillis/
- Roisin Lynch speaking for the release of her partner Brendan Lillis: http://youtu.be/lrVDu_fnKtE

Brendan Lillis: Amnesty International and politics

kruitvat — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 10:16:49 +0000

In a human rights campaign of Amnesty International, Justice Minister Ford of Northern Ireland (Alliance Party) ‘voted for Justice’…
Is this a justice whereby he let die a very sick man as Brendan Lillis in prison because he don’t want that this man dies at home ?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/amnestyni/5431047906/in/set-72157626011181898/

David Ford Alliance Party MLA for South Antrim
www.flickr.com

David Votes for Justice for Victims of Trafficking and Institutional Child Abuse in Northern Ireland and support for victims of injustice abroad. More details on the campaign: www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=11993

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Brendan Lillis is a republican political prisoner currently being held captive in Maghaberry Gaol for taken …part… in PIRA activity back in the 70’s. The initial robbery charges against Brendan that led to his licence being revoked in 2009 have since been withdrawn. Brendan suffers from a condition known as “Ankylosing Spondylitis” and has been confined to bed for the past two years, and giving only a short time to live, he weighs just under 5 stone.
The commissioners said today that they still consider Brendan as a ‘danger to the public’. The statement comes after weeks of protests and hunger strikes, and after several activists were arrested as a ‘dissident’.
There is no reason what so ever as to why the British State should continue to hold this seriously ill man captive any longer. Please come along and show your support for Brendan and demand his immediate release.

More info:
- Friends of Brendan Lillis
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Friends.Of.Brendan.Lillis?ref=ts
- Roisin Lynch speaking for the release of her partner Brendan Lillishttp://youtu.be/lrVDu_fnKtE

Photos: Minister Ford – Brendan Lillis, dying

Brendan Lillis: solidarity hunger strike

kruitvat — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 14:51:47 +0000

Date: Thu, 2011-07-21

Roisin Allsop, partner of political prisoner is to begin a 3 day hunger strike along with supporters tomorrow in West Belfast to highlight his case and demand his release based on humanitarian grounds. A meeting was also held this week in Derry attended by over 200 people to highlight ongoing state repression and brutality on the inside. Protests are also taking place across Ireland and in London.

Below is a press release released on behalf of Brendan Lillis

‘Brendan Lillis is currently a prisoner in Maghaberry Prison where he is serving a sentence for explosive offences in 1976. Brendan suffers from the condition ankylosing spondylitis and has been confined to bed for the best part of the past two years.

Brendan Lillis is no threat to anybody. Brendan Lillis is dying and has been abandoned by an entire political system which is more interested in making statements about his condition than in applying their political power to remedy the situation.

We call for the immediate release of Brendan Lillis to his partner Roisin so that whatever time Brendan has left on this earth be spent with his immediate family.

Brendan Lillis can not walk; he can not get up from his bed. He is incapacitated, and he is being left alone to die in a prison cell. We have seen enough of our people die in prison cells and find the manner in which Brendan is being treated as an obscenity.

A hunger strike in support of Brendan Lillis will commence this Thursday 21st July at the site of the old Andersonstown Barracks, Belfast. Roisin Lynch, partner of Brendan Lillis will be joined by old comrades of Brendan’s from the Blanket protest days and other former prisoners and concerned individuals. The action is designed to highlight Brendan’s case and the lack of any movement in securing his release from the politicians who know Brendan and knew him as a Blanketman.

Time is fast running out for Brendan Lillis and he should be released immediately.

We call on all people concerned with this grave injustice to come along on Thursday, Friday or Saturday and register your support for a sick and dying man being held hostage by a vindictive and punitive regime.’

Brendan Lillis: BBC Radio Foyle discussion including a contribution from Roisin Allsop

Here is the link to listen to this again.

Click on http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b012m7nh

Then go forward to 1:05:05

———————————

http://www.wsm.ie/c/brendan-lillis-partner-solidarity-hunger-strike

Brendan Lillis: links to the latest articles

kruitvat — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 08:45:18 +0000

Ms Campbell Speech Andytown – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCt1DyQv0bQ&feature=related

Gerard Hogkins Speech Andytown – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuRjhWg1hXE&feature=related

Roisin’s Speech Andytown – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrVDu_fnKtE

Derry Journal 23rd July – http://www.derryjournal.com/news/local/families_support_lillis_campaign_1_2893702

Belfast 32 – http://belfast32.blogspot.com/2011/07/72-hour-fast-for-brendan-lillis_22.html

Utv Latest from Andytown – http://www.u.tv/utvplayer/video/138104/113062

Republican Socialist News – http://www.irsp.ie/news/?p=344

Belfast Telegraph – http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/release-brendan-lillis-campaigners-go-on-hunger-strike-16026395.html

Eirigi Statement – http://www.eirigi.org/latest/latest220711.html

Prisoners Action Group – http://prisoners-action-group.skynetblogs.be/archive/2011/07/22/actions-for-dying-brenda-lillis-are-a-success.html

From Corsica – http://infurmazione.unita-naziunale.org/5016/brendan-lillis-prisonnier-politique-est-en-train-de-mourir-en-prison/2011/

WorkersSolidarityMovement – http://www.wsm.ie/c/brendan-lillis-partner-solidarity-hunger-strike

IrishFreedomCommittee – http://www.irishfreedomcommittee.net/POWs/BRENDAN_LILLIS.htm

HumanRightsGroup – http://humanrightsgroup.wordpress.com/2011/07/19/northern-ireland-brendan-lillis-dying-in-maghaberry-prison/

UTV 21st July – http://www.u.tv/News/Blanketmen-join-call-for-prisoners-release/e781f523-690e-4ff6-b080-a436525ad8f9

IrishCentral.com New York – http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Northern-Ireland-man-held-in-jail-over-1976-crime-despite-having-served-his-sentence–VIDEO-125943423.html

Prisoners Action Group – http://prisoners-action-group.skynetblogs.be/archive/2011/07/21/northern-ireland-actions-for-brendan-lillis.html

SocialistWorker.org – http://www.www.socialistworker.org/2011/07/21/let-brendan-lillis-go-home

The Pensive Quill 20th July – http://thepensivequill.am/2011/07/on-bridge-of-peace.html

BeforeitsNews.com – http://beforeitsnews.com/story/767/127/Irish_Prisoner_Facing_Death.html

U.105 News – http://www.u105.com/LocalNews/Hunger-strike-over-Maghaberry-inmate/3dc377af-2cea-42e6-a366-c907c5fc3a65

Derry Journal 19th July – http://www.derryjournal.com/news/local/hunger_strike_at_free_derry_1_2878427

The Irish Observer – http://theirishobserver.blogspot.com/2011/07/brenda-lillis-maghaberry-jail-600-days.html

Workers Solidarity Movement – http://www.wsm.ie/c/release-brendan-lillis-now

Hub Pages iskra1916 – http://iskra1916.hubpages.com/hub/Brendan-Lillis-Irish-Prisoner-Being-Allowed-To-Die-in-Maghaberry-Gaol

Human Rights Movement Belgium – http://mensenrechten-droits-de-lhomme.skynetblogs.be/archive/2011/07/20/actions-for-brendan-lillis-hungerstrike-thursday-21st-july-2.html

Derry 32 csm – http://www.derry32csm.com/

IRISH REPUBLICAN NEWS – http://republican-news.org/current/news/2011/07/blanketman_on_the_threshold.html

Human Rights Group – http://humanrightsgroup.wordpress.com/2011/07/19/northern-ireland-brendan-lillis-dying-in-maghaberry-prison/

Derry Sinn Fein – http://www.derrysinnfein.ie/news/20196

SDLP – http://www.sdlp.ie/index.php/newsroom_media/newsarticle/eastwood_calls_on_sos_to_help_secure_release_of_brendan_lillis/

The Pensive Quill aka Anthony McIntyre – http://thepensivequill.am/2011/07/brendan-lillis-press-release.html

WordPress – http://prisonsofshame.wordpress.com/2011/07/20/brendan-lillis-dying-some-words-to-justice-minister-david-ford/

Troops Out Movement – http://www.troopsoutmovement.com/campaigns.htm

Organised Rage Blog – http://www.organizedrage.com/2011/07/brendan-lillis-press-release.html

UTV – http://www.u.tv/News/Hunger-strike-over-Maghaberry-inmate/3dc377af-2cea-42e6-a366-c907c5fc3a65

Audio from Pilots Row meeting – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPlrXlHcyIo&feature=youtu.be

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Brendan Lillis, a 59 year old former Life-sentence political prisoner from West Belfast, in Ireland, is currently desperately ill in the medical wing of the notorious Maghaberry prison, in County Antrim. He suffers from the intensely painful and progressive disease called Ankylosing Spondylitis which due to other medical complications has left himunable to move from his bed for 14 months and his weight has dropped to a perilous 6 stones (38.1 Kilos !). Due to a series of serious infections and medication which has compromised his immune system, Mr Lillis has been unable to eat, sleep or hold down even liquids for a period close to a month and is constant agony. In short, his health has deteriorated to such an extent that his partner Roisin, who is his only contact with the outside world, fears that he will die in his prison bed!

Photo: Brendan Lillis, Maghaberry prison, Northern Ireland

Become member of the group Friends of Brendan Lillis:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Friends.Of.Brendan.Lillis?ref=ts

Brendan Lillis dying: Some words to Justice Minister David Ford

kruitvat — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 12:26:32 +0000

Brussels, July 20th 2011

Dear Mister Ford,

If you would decide to show a little compassion for Brendan Lillis and Roisin Lynch, partner of Brendan, then I would strongly appreciate that, Mr. Ford. Don’t see them as your political ennemies but as human beings, please.

I will write you a final letter today asking you again to release Brendan and I call for Brendan’s release on purely humanitarian grounds so that he might die at home.

Do not wait too long with your decision, Mr. Ford.

I heard that you want to organize now a new meeting ‘to discuss the medical condition’ of Brendan. I don’t think that it would be a good idea. It will be too late for Brendan and it would be just terrible for Roisin. It will also undermine the credibility of the representatives of the DUP, Sinn Féin, the Alliance Party, the Green Party and the Progressive Unionist Party who supported you to become Northern Ireland’s first Justice Minister in 38 years.

Jan Boeykens
Belgium
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Brendan Lillis, a 59 year old former Life-sentence political prisoner from West Belfast, in Ireland, is currently desperately ill in the medical wing of the notorious Maghaberry prison, in County Antrim. He suffers from the intensely painful and progressive disease called Ankylosing Spondylitis which due to other medical complications has left himunable to move from his bed for 14 months and his weight has dropped to a perilous 6 stones (38.1 Kilos !). Due to a series of serious infections and medication which has compromised his immune system, Mr Lillis has been unable to eat, sleep or hold down even liquids for a period close to a month and is constant agony. In short, his health has deteriorated to such an extent that his partner Roisin, who is his only contact with the outside world, fears that he will die in his prison bed!
——————
Links:BBC interview with Brendan Lillis’ partner Roisin Lynch (18.7.2011):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/bbc_radio_foyle#freshSignin=trueor click on http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b012m7nh
Then go forward to 1:05:05 – 7 days left to listen again

On 14-7-11 Roisin Lynch, partner of Brendan Lillis, spoke at a meeting in Pilot’s Row Derry.
Release Brendan Lillis – YouTube – http://youtu.be/xPlrXlHcyIo

Sign the petition:
www.petitionspot.com/petitions/releaseBrendylilli

Become member of the group Friends of Brendan Lillis:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Friends.Of.Brendan.Lillis?ref=ts

Photo: Brendan Lillis, dying in Maghaberry prison

Brendan Lillis dying in Maghaberry prison: Justice Minister David Ford

kruitvat — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 10:36:46 +0000

In Belgium the Minister of Justice accepted, what is called, the ‘release on conditions’ of political prisoners who were very sick or dying.

Justice Minister Ford of Northern Ireland, can do the same in the case of Brendan Lillis, if he wants. But it is a pure political case for him. He is afraid that the release of Brendan, will be seen as a victory by ‘a small number of prisoners and their allies outside the prisons’.

On 7 May 2010, speaking of an incident that took place in Roe House at Maghaberry Prison he said: “This is the latest in a series of actions by a small number of prisoners, designed to form the impression that they are being mistreated. Just as their allies outside the prisons are trying to take Northern Ireland backwards by their campaign of violence, these prisoners are trying to take prisons backwards. They seem determined to create conditions which they will then complain about, but they will have no-one to blame but themselves.”

Minister Ford is also afraid for an investigation to the prison system in Northern Ireland. During the latest months, there were 5 deaths in the Maghaberry prison in Northern Ireland. He can not say, as was the case in 2010, that this is ‘the latest in a series of actions by a small number of prisoners, designed to form the impression that they are being mistreated.’ Because nobody will believe that.

Ford thinks as a real politician who wants to survive as a politician and who is not able anymore to think in a human way.
He has apparently chosen for his own political position. That is why Brendan has to die.

http://www.dojni.gov.uk/ford_condemns_dissident_action_at_maghaberry

Photo: Justice Minister David Ford, responsible for the prison policy in Northern Ireland

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Links:

BBC interview with Brendan Lillis’ partner Roisin Lynch (18.7.2011):

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/bbc_radio_foyle#freshSignin=true or

Click on http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b012m7nh

Then go forward to 1:05:05 - 7 days left to listen again

—

Friends of Brendan Lillis:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Friends.Of.Brendan.Lillis?ref=ts

Sign the petition:
www.petitionspot.com/petitions/releaseBrendylilli