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Milan Rai |
Jail sentence for war protester
THE first person to be convicted under the controversial counter-terror laws banning spontaneous protest near Parliament was sentenced to two weeks in prison.
Milan Rai had refused to pay his fines for ringing a bell and reading names of dead Iraqis outside Downing Street in October 2005.
The celebrated author and peace activist is currently being held at Wandsworth prison, following a court appearance at Horseferry Magistrates’ court on Wednesday.
Mr Rai was arrested opposite Downing Street with vegan chef Maya Evans, after the pair read out the names of Iraqis and British service personnel who had been killed in Iraq since the 2003 invasion. He was convicted under the Serious Organised Crimes and Police Act and fined £350, which he has refused to pay.
Ms Evans, who also faces a custodial sentence, said: “It is a dark chapter in British history when someone is sent to prison for taking part in a peaceful demonstration. I am deeply shocked. I hope Gordon Brown will begin to repeal the draconian legislation introduced by Blair.”
The pair were convicted in May this year for organising another “unauthorised” demonstration.
The “No More Fallujahs” weekend of non-violent resistance marked the second anniversary of the US/UK onslaught on the Iraqi city of Fallujah.
More than 500 women and children have been killed during the Fallujah attacks by US forces using white phosphorus – a substance that burns down to the bone on contact with human flesh.
At his second trial Mr Rai was fined £100. On both occasions Mr Rai said he would refuse to pay his fines on grounds of conscience. Mr Rai was in June awarded Catholic peace group Pax Christi’s biannual peace award. |
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