SEND STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY TO
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Dear friends and comrades,

This issue is terribly important, and we have the opportunity if you act immediately to save these heroic (and nonviolent) activists from being sentenced to years in prison for saving the lives of immigrants at sea. Please sign on!

below is the letter sent by my friend Gerda Heck in Cologne.

Simply send a statement of solidarity to [log in to unmask]

Thanx again.

Mitchel Cohen
Brooklyn Greens / Green Party
writing from Stuttgart, Germany

========================================

From: Gerda Heck <[log in to unmask]>

Dear friends,

After saving 37 refugees from drowning in the Mediterranean Sea in the 
summer of 2004, Captain Stefan Schmidt and the former head of the German 
humanitarian organization Cap Anamir, elias bierdel, were accused of 
illegal people trafficking. 

Since november 2006 the court case has been 
proceeding in Agrigento, Sicily, in whose province the ship docked on 12 
July 2004. The trial against the Cap Anamur enters its decisive stage. 

The prosecution of the Italian region Agrigento demands that Elias 
Bierdel and Captain Stefan Schmidt are to be convicted to four years of 
prison and a fine of 400,000 Euros. The judgment is to be pronounced on 
20 May 2009.

We need your help, NOW!

The German Human Rights Organization PRO ASYL and the German 
Ecumenical Committee on Church Asylum are thus initiating a campaign of 
solidarity with the defendants. Therefor I would like to ask you to 
sign and forward the appeal below and send it back to Pro Asyl.

If you need further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

All the best
Gerda

Dr. Gerda Heck
Institut für vergleichende Bildungsforschung und Sozialwissenschaften
Humanwissenschaftliche Fakultät/ Universität Köln
Gronewaldstr. 2
D-50931 Köln
Tel.: +49 221 470 4742
email: [log in to unmask]


Solidarity with Elias Bierdel and Captain Stefan Schmidt

In June 2004, the German Vessel "Cap Anamur" rescued 37 persons from distress at sea. Because of this maritime salvage, Captain Stefan Schmidt and Elias Bierdel are facing trial in Italy. The two life-savers could be condemned to imprisonment, exorbitant fines or further arduous years awaiting trial on the next level of jurisdiction.

We are appalled by the attempt to outlaw the courageous action of Elias Bierdel and Stefan Schmidt and by the attempt to destroy their livelihoods. We demand to drop all charges against them and to fully restore their reputation. Humanitarian aid is never a crime.

    Dear colleagues, dear friends,

    The trial against the Cap Anamur enters its decisive stage. The prosecution of the Italian region Agrigento demands that Elias Bierdel and Captain Stefan Schmidt are to be convicted to four years of prison and a fine of 400.000 Euros. The judgment is to be pronounced on 20 May 2009.

    PRO ASYL and the German Ecumenical Committee on Church Asylum are thus initiating a campaign of solidarity with the defendants.

    We would like to ask you for your support: please sign the attached appeal, it is available in German, English and Italian.

    The attempt to outlaw the salvation of refugees at sea has far reaching implications. Broad international support for Elias Bierdel and Stefan Schmidt is necessary. We have to send out a clear signal: the charges were not to be raised in the first place. The real scandal is the loss of life at the gates of Europe. Humanitarian aid and rescue at sea are no crime.

    The trial, the threat of a possible conviction and the prospect of further legal proceedings are severe burdens for our two friends and colleagues. Their livelihood and reputation are at risk.

    We ask you to send the signed appeal to [log in to unmask], to support the upcoming press work and advocacy efforts and to develop your own activities of solidarity.

    On Monday 18 May 2009 we will publish the appeal with the signatures of as many supporters as possible. Starting from 18 May it will also be possible to sign an online-petition to the Italian Ministry of Justice on our homepage www.proasyl.de.

     

    Kind regards

    Karl Kopp
    English:

    Solidarity with Elias Bierdel and Captain Stefan Schmidt

    In June 2004, the German Vessel "Cap Anamur" rescued 37 persons from distress at sea. Because of this maritime salvage, Captain Stefan Schmidt and Elias Bierdel are facing trial in Italy. The two life-savers could be condemned to imprisonment, exorbitant fines or further arduous years awaiting trial on the next level of jurisdiction.

    We are appalled by the attempt to outlaw the courageous action of Elias Bierdel and Stefan Schmidt and by the attempt to destroy their livelihoods. We demand to drop all charges against them and to fully restore their reputation. Humanitarian aid is never a crime.


    Deutsch
    Solidarität mit Elias Bierdel und Kapitän Stefan Schmidt

    Das deutsche Schiff Cap Anamur rettete im Juni 2004 37 Menschen aus Seenot. Für diese Rettungstat stehen Kapitän Stefan Schmidt und Elias Bierdel in Italien vor Gericht. Den beiden Lebensrettern drohen Haft, exorbitante Geldstrafen und weitere zermürbende Jahre in der nächsten Gerichtsinstanz.

    Wir sind empört über den Versuch, couragiertes Handeln zu kriminalisieren und die Existenz von Elias Bierdel und Stefan Schmidt zu zerstören Wir fordern ihre umfassende Rehabilitierung. Humanitäre Hilfe ist kein Verbrechen.

     

    Italiano:

    Solidarietà a Elias Bierdel e al capitano Stefan Schmidt

    Nel giugno 2004 la nave tedesca Cap Anamur trasse in salvo 37 naufraghi nel Canale di Sicilia. Per questo salvataggio, il comandante Stefan Schmidt e Elias Bierdel sono finiti sotto processo. Oggi rischiano il carcere, multe salatissime e altri anni snervanti per i ricorsi.

    Siamo indignati per il tentativo in atto di criminalizzare un gesto umanitario e coraggioso, e di cercare di distruggere la vita di Elias Bierdel e Stefan Schmidt.
    Esigiamo l'assoluzione completa. L'aiuto umanitario non è mai un crimine.