November 23, 2010
IGLYO
IGLYO has today written regarding the arrest and unlawful detention of Robert Biedron a Board Member which the Campaign Against Homophobia on November 11th. A copy of the letter can be viewed below.
To: Minister of Justice, Krzysztof Kwiatkowski,
CC: Police Chief, General Inspector, Andrzej Matejuk
President of Warsaw, Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz
Warsaw Plenipotentiary for Equal Treatment, Karolina Malczyk-Rokicinska
European Commissioner for Justice and Fundamental Rights, Vivanne Readding
Intergroup on LGBT Rights, European Parliament, Michael Cashman MEP
Re: The Arrest of Robert Biedron on November 11th 2010
Dear Sir,
It is with a profound sense of regret that I hope you will read this letter, on November 11th 2010 Robert Biedron (Board Member of the Campaign Against Homophobia) was arrested in Warsaw following the neoNazi demonstration on that date.
Robert was arrested in the confusion surrounding the protest and counter demonstration, having not committed any crimes, and was held for twenty hours without access to legal advice, a phone call or an explanation for his arrest. While in police custody Robert was assaulted by police officers and required medical attention following his release. His unlawful detention and beating were violations of his most basic human rights and stand as an affront to common decency and the principals upon which the European Union is founded.
We are calling on you to initiate an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding Roberts arrest and detention and the brutality he suffered at the hands of the police in Warsaw. We are particularly surprised by the actions of the officers involved given recent projects between the police force in Warsaw and the Campaign Against Homophobia in encouraging members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer community to come forward and report crimes that might otherwise go unreported.
On Behalf of the Board of IGLYO
Oisín O’ Reilly
Board Member
