PETITION CLOSED

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Tell Austria that Animal Activists Do Not belong in Jail !
  1. Signatures
    245 out of 500
  2. Created By
    r s
    holmen, WI
About this Petition Pledge







http://www.vgt.at/actionalert/repression/petition/index_en.php

Online Petition against Arbitrary Police Operations Against Animal Protectionists

To:

Minister for Justice Dr. Maria Berger and Minister for the Interior Dr. Maria Fekter

Subject:

Against Arbitrary Police Operations Against Animal Protectionists

 

On the morning of 21 May 2008, in a country-wide police operation 23 premises were raided and ten animal protectionists arrested.

Both the police operation and the remand of these people are thoroughly disproportionate. Doors were rammed open and masked police units stormed into homes with their guns drawn. There followed intimidation through verbal and bodily harassment and humiliation.

As justification, the Public Prosecution cites § 278a Austrian Penal Code ("criminal organisation"), a law, which is otherwise used solely in relation to smuggling rings and Mafia groups. Proof that alleged "criminal organisation" exists is still outstanding, as are concrete connections that the detainees supposedly have with this ominous organisation. In fact, more than a year of detailed surveillance, the "grosse Lauschangriff", showed no hint of committing, organising or planning a criminal offence by the accused. Is there any better proof of their innocence?

It is not acceptable, that a state under the rule of law remands people in custody without convincing argument, or that police confiscate computers, mobile phones, data bases and documents on the off chance. Four NGOs have been robbed of their functional existence in this manner. These are serious violations of civil rights.

Austria's animal welfare laws are considered the best in the world. This is important for Austria's international image. These progressive reforms should be held up in pride, not criminalised.

Austria has many citizens initiatives and NGOs. The work by these important groups is jeopardized as long as §278a is still in place and threatening everybody, who dares to speak up. A number of animal protection organisations have not received their vital office equipment back. What is actually happening here, is a very worrying attack on NGO-work and on our basic human rights to a degree unheard of before in Austria. Please help to protect these rights and make sure that NGOs can once again fill their vital role free of state repression in the name of us all.

Yours Faithfully,

http://www.vgt.at/actionalert/repression/petition/index_en.php

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Tell Austria that Animal Activists Do Not belong in Jail !

I pledge to...

<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.vgt.at/actionalert/repression/petition/index_en.php">http://www.vgt.at/actionalert/repression/petition/index_en.php</a><br /><br />Online Petition against Arbitrary Police Operations Against Animal Protectionists<br /><br />
<p><strong>To:</strong></p>
<p><strong>Minister for Justice Dr. Maria Berger and Minister for the Interior Dr. Maria Fekter</strong></p>
<p><strong>Subject:</strong></p>
<p><strong>Against Arbitrary Police Operations Against Animal Protectionists</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>On the morning of 21 May 2008, in a country-wide police operation 23 premises were raided and ten animal protectionists arrested.</p>
<p>Both the police operation and the remand of these people are thoroughly disproportionate. Doors were rammed open and masked police units stormed into homes with their guns drawn. There followed intimidation through verbal and bodily harassment and humiliation.</p>
<p>As justification, the Public Prosecution cites &sect; 278a Austrian Penal Code ("criminal organisation"), a law, which is otherwise used solely in relation to smuggling rings and Mafia groups. Proof that alleged "criminal organisation" exists is still outstanding, as are concrete connections that the detainees supposedly have with this ominous organisation. In fact, more than a year of detailed surveillance, the "grosse Lauschangriff", showed no hint of committing, organising or planning a criminal offence by the accused. Is there any better proof of their innocence?</p>
<p>It is not acceptable, that a state under the rule of law remands people in custody without convincing argument, or that police confiscate computers, mobile phones, data bases and documents on the off chance. Four NGOs have been robbed of their functional existence in this manner. These are serious violations of civil rights.</p>
<p>Austria's animal welfare laws are considered the best in the world. This is important for Austria's international image. These progressive reforms should be held up in pride, not criminalised.</p>
<p>Austria has many citizens initiatives and NGOs. The work by these important groups is jeopardized as long as &sect;278a is still in place and threatening everybody, who dares to speak up. A number of animal protection organisations have not received their vital office equipment back. What is actually happening here, is a very worrying attack on NGO-work and on our basic human rights to a degree unheard of before in Austria. Please help to protect these rights and make sure that NGOs can once again fill their vital role free of state repression in the name of us all.</p>
<p>Yours Faithfully,<br /><br /><a href="http://www.vgt.at/actionalert/repression/petition/index_en.php">http://www.vgt.at/actionalert/repression/petition/index_en.php</a></p>

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