Simon Chapman - Imprisoned in Greece

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 17th Nov 2003

Following the arrest and detention of her constituent Simon Chapman at the Thessaloniki EU Summit on 21 June, Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP has raised his case with the authorities and released the following statements:

13 November 2003

Greece: Violent Protests Condemned

Responding to disturbing reports in the Greek media that anarchists are using violent means to protest against the arrest and detention of Simon Chapman and his co-accused Sarah Ludford, Liberal Democrat Euro-MP for London said:

"I have made representations on Simon's behalf on explicit assurances that Simon is a peaceful protester and has not participated in any violent or unlawful behaviour in Thessaloniki. I am taking up legitimate concerns about Simon's arrest and detention.

I am very concerned about reports of the behaviour from some people in Greece which is not only unlawful but does absolutely nothing for Simon or his co-accused.

I will have no truck with or any sympathy for anybody who employs violent or unlawful means as a manner of protest and condemn it in the strongest possible terms"

12 November 2003

MEP calls for swift resolution to Simon Chapman's case

Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP reacting to reports of the grave state of health of Simon Chapman, on hunger strike in protest at alleged framing by police in Greece, has urged a swift resolution to the crisis.

Sarah said:

"Simon needs to be persuaded as a matter of real urgency not to endanger his health any further and he needs to be given sound assurances that his case will be examined with all speed and resolved fairly."

5 November 2003

MEP calls for release of Hunger Strike Briton

Reflecting serious concerns over the arrest and detention of anti-capitalist protestor Mr Simon Chapman at the Thessaloniki EU summit in June, London Euro-MP and LibDem European justice spokeswoman Sarah Ludford is calling on the Greek authorities to release him.

She says:

"There is severe doubt over the integrity of Simon's arrest and the behaviour of police. To this is added fears about his well-being, given his hunger strike in protest.

"The court must urgently reconsider the charges in the light of the video and witness evidence which appear to support Simon's story that he was intent on purely peaceful political protest and was 'fitted up' by police. But at the very least I urge that he should be granted bail; his family are understandably very anxious about his state of health.

Simon Chapman maintains that he was engaged in peaceful anti-globalisation protests in Thessaloniki before he was arrested and charged with serious riot and explosives offences carrying a potential 25 year prison sentence. He claims he was overpowered with tear gas, attacked and dishonestly framed by police who allegedly removed his bag containing only water and clothes and planted on him a bag containing Molotov cocktails, an axe and a hammer. Simon's claims are apparently supported by film evidence taken from a Greek television channel.

Mr Chapman has had three bail applications refused and is awaiting a fourth bail hearing on the 20th November. However his health is fast deteriorating as he has been on hunger strike for several weeks and is now taking only water.

Sarah Ludford added:

"I utterly deplore people perpetrating violence in the name of political protest, but the right to demonstrate peacefully is a vital civil liberty that should be upheld even by those who disagree with the particular cause. If Simon has been a victim of police scapegoating and malpractice, this is a very serious situation which needs to be investigated."

Simon Chapman was arrested at the Thessaloniki EU Summit on 21st June 2003. Six others continue to be detained with him in Greece on almost identical charges. They are expected to stand trial together in the second half of next year. They all vehemently protest their innocence and started their hunger strike on 5th October to alert the public to this miscarriage of justice. Human rights charity Fair Trials Abroad is supporting Simon and his two Spanish co- accused Fernando Perez and Carlos Martin Martinez.

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