Justice for Ahmed Zaoui Now

FROM: Peace Action Wellington

Concerned citizens in Wellington are invited to a picket starting at the New Zealand Immigration Service (56 The Terrace) and moving to the Security Intelligence Service (Ministry of Defence, Stout Street) today at 12 noon. The action, organised by Peace Action Wellington, is an opportunity for people to express their outrage at the handling of the case of Algerian refugee Ahmed Zaoui who has now been in prison for over a year without any charge.

'The New Zealand Government is appealing a ruling that Mr. Zaoui's human rights be taken into account by the Inspector General of the SIS. This is appalling. There is no government agency which should be exempt from respecting human rights.' said Peace Action Wellington member Valerie Morse.

'This is a very frightening prospect. Under the Terrorism Supression Act, the Government decides who is a terrrorist, it then judges that person, denies him the right to know what the accusations against him are and then denies him his basic human rights.'

'The so-called 'War on Terrorism' is really about destroying civil liberties and prosecuting people who are different, not about protecting New Zealand from threats. It is really a war on people.'

Peace Action Wellington demands 1. that Ahmed Zaoui be moved from prison 2. an end to all New Zealnd support for the so-called 'War on Terrorism' 3. a review of the NZ Security Intelligence Service

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