WATCH OUR CINEMA AD FOR LIBERTY'S CHARGE OR RELEASE CAMPAIGN

PRESS RELEASE
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Liberty launches powerful cinema advert in London cinemas to alert public about draconian anti-terror plans

29 Feb 2008
Today Liberty will launch a powerful cinema ad to raise awareness of the negative human impact of the Government’s controversial plans to hold terror suspects for 42 days without charge.
As part of Liberty’s Charge or Release campaign, the 30 second film uses stark images of an abandoned home to make the audience consider what it would be like to leave their homes, their families and their lives for six weeks and to be locked up without even being charged.

Renowned British actor Simon Callow, who provided the voiceover for the cinema advert, said:

“It seems to me that we must proceed with extraordinary caution in eroding the rights of the person, especially in regard to arrest without charge. The burden of proof must rest with the authorities: general suspicion is not enough. It is vitally important that the nation is aware of what is happening in its name. If artists have any degree of prominence, it may be that they can help to alert their fellow citizens to what is going on. I am proud to add my voice to Liberty’s campaign on this issue.”

Acclaimed British director Stephen Frears said of Liberty’s cinema advert:

"I am always on the side of anything which shows how complicated life can become for people, especially when placed under something as faceless and un-thought out as the Terror laws. If films can help, so much the better. Hats off!"

Liberty’s Campaigns Co-ordinator Sabina Frediani said:

“We hope this ad touches film-goers who care about upholding human rights - it is only when ordinary people stand up that injustices can be averted.”

The cinema ad was directed by emerging director Farrah Drabu of DNR Films.

Liberty has also been distributing a Charge or Release viral film about the anti-terror proposals featuring designer Vivienne Westwood and actor Riz Ahmed of Channel 4’s Britz.

Contact: Jen Corlew on 0207 378 3656 or 0797 3 831 128

Notes to Editors

1. Liberty’s Charge or Release cinema advert will be showing from Friday 29 February -Thursday 13 March at the following cinemas: Brixton Ritzy Screen 1; Clapham Picture House Screen 1; Greenwich Picture House

Screen 1; Chelsea Cinema Screen 1; Bloomsbury Renoir Screen 1 and from Friday 29 February - Thursday 6 March at the following cinemas: ICA Screen 1; London Baker Street Screen 2; Mayfair Curzon Screen 2; Soho

Curzon Screen 1; Soho Curzon Screen 3.

2. In November 2007 Liberty launched its Charge or Release campaign to halt Government plans to extend the period terror suspects are held without charge. Liberty is mobilising its members, the public and politicians to oppose any extension beyond the current 28-day detention period, which is nearly four times longer than that of most comparable democracies. Liberty’s Charge or Release campaign adverts which compare pre-charge detention periods in 15 democracies have been published in national newspapers and displayed on billboards across London.

3. Liberty has called on the Government to implement less controversial anti-terror measures instead of extending pre-charge detention, including:

Remove the bar on the use of intercept (phone tap) evidence because its inadmissibility is a major factor in being unable to bring charges in terror cases.
Allow post-charge questioning in terror cases provided that the initial charge is legitimate and there is judicial oversight. This will allow for a charge to be replaced with a more appropriate offence at a later stage.
Hire more interpreters: Prioritise the hiring of more foreign language interpreters to expedite pre-charge questioning and other procedures.
Add resources: More resources for police and intelligence services.
Emergency measures in the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 could be triggered in a genuine emergency in which the police are overwhelmed by multiple terror plots, allowing the Government to temporarily extend pre-charge detention subject to Parliamentary and judicial oversight.