Simon Chapman: Urgent action requested again

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 21st Nov 2003

Sarah has written an urgent letter to Greek foreign minister Papandreou appealing to him directly to do all in his power to ensure the Greek authorities acknowledge the invalid nature of the arrest and detention of Simon Chapman based on the photo and video evidence that police planted a bag containing molotov cocktails on him.

Read more about the case of Simon Chapman here

The text of the letter is below:

Dear Mr Papandreou,

URGENT: Mr Simon Chapman, British citizen in detention and on hunger strike in Greece.

As spokeswoman on justice matters for the European Liberal Democrats I have had the pleasure of meeting you just before and during the Greek Presidency of the EU, most recently at the excellent conference on managed migration in Athens last May.

I am now taking the liberty of writing to you directly on an urgent matter. It concerns my constituent Mr Simon Chapman who, as you will know, is being held in detention in Athens on charges of riot, resisting authority, arson, construction, possession of explosives and criminal damage. I understand Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio raised with you the plight of the Spanish detainees held on similar charges when you met earlier this week and that you told her you would make sure all the cases are dealt with speedily and urgently.

Simon Chapman was arrested when peacefully taking part in a demonstration at the Thessaloniki EU summit on June 21st 2003. He maintains that police overpowered him with tear gas, violently attacked him and dishonestly "framed" him by removing his own bag containing only water and clothes and planting on him a bag containing Molotov cocktails, an axe and a hammer.

I believe that the charges against Simon Chapman should be dropped. Not only do I believe there is no evidence of Simon committing criminal offences, there is positive film evidence which appears to show police acting illegally. Simon categorically denies all of the serious charges made against him.

He claims that whilst in detention he has been mistreated by police. To date Simon has had three bail applications refused. I understand a fourth one is under consideration following further video evidence which supports his story

I believe Simon to be innocent of these charges and have been assured that he is not nor ever has been a violent protestor. With the film evidence which supports his story and thoroughly discredits his arrest, I am shocked and surprised that the charges have not been dropped.

I should add that I understand Mr Chapman was interviewed without interpretation which is clearly unacceptable.

I am aware of and welcome the fact that a Supreme Court prosecutor has now ordered an investigation into Simon Chapman's claims that he was framed by police. I request that you do anything further you can to secure that charges against Simon are dropped and at the very least that he is released on bail. Simon is so resolutely determined about his innocence and mistreatment by the Greek authorities that he is carrying through his hunger strike and his life is in grave danger.

With the evidence existing which so clearly supports Simon's claims of innocence and with so many serious questions to be answered over his arrest I believe the Greek state has a duty to act. I would also like to know whether the police involved in Simon's arrest and detention are being investigated for the actions that appear on film.

Thank you in advance for your urgent consideration of this matter; I look forward to hearing from you very soon.

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