ShameOnAustria
Political activists in Austria face up to 5 years in prison

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Please write to representatives of the five major political parties in Austria, urging them to change the law which has allowed the persecution of the activists and to dismiss any new provision that could lead to similar excesses.

Below is a suggested letter in English, which you can amend as you wish and send online. You can also write this letter in German.

Write a protest letter

Dear (recipient name),

I have always considered Austria to be an established constitutional state. However, what I have just read about Austria's treatment of social activists has deeply undermined my trust in the rule of law in this country.

It is highly disturbing to read that, in Austria, animal protection campaigners are now facing up to 5 years imprisonment because of activities such as organising demonstrations, expressing opinions or documenting the conditions on livestock farms, which is apparent from the charge sheets the activists have released.

As a member of parliament and a representative of a major political party, you share a great deal of responsibility for this situation. Although I appreciate that you are not empowered to interfere in the judicial proceedings, you do share the power over the legislation by which the court is bound. It is an essential aspect of a functioning democracy that any misuse of law for anti-democratic practices is promptly corrected by the legislature amending the law to make sure that such misuse shall not continue.

Making a person stand a six-month long trial, and especially imposing remand custody, is something that is only admissible if serious evidence of criminal behaviour can be presented. When the prosecution, instead, bases the charges on activities like organising demonstrations, it is indeed a totalitarian excess, which requires the use of all legitimate means for its remedy.

Therefore, I urge that your political party support the amendment of Sec 278a of the Penal Code, on which the persecution of the activists has been based. The existence of Sec 278a is justified by the need to fight organised crime, but its wording does not follow the EU and the UN definition of organised crime, which requires the intent to enrich oneself rather than to “exert influence over politics and the economy” to be present. Following the internationally recognised standard would surely not compromise Austria's security but would prevent further misuse of Sec 278a against political activists.

Furthermore, I urge that your political party reject any new provision whose interpretation could lead to similar excesses. I am especially concerned about the proposed widening of the anti-terrorist legislation, which has already been criticised by Amnesty International for providing too vague a definition of incitement and terror training, which could create another opportunity for persecution of inconvenient political activists.

I urge you to take this situation seriously. Persecuting citizens for their opinions and political activities is a practice that does not belong to the 21st century Europe.

Yours sincerely

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Links to the documents mentioned in the suggested letter:

The charge sheets – see the References.
The EU and the UN definitions of organised crime (in English).
The position of Amnesty International on the proposed widening of anti-terrorist legislation in Austria (in German).

ShameOnAustria
Political activists in Austria face up to 5 years in prison

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Background

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News

Act now

Act now

Write a protest letter

ShameOnAustriaPolitical activists in Austria face up to 5 years in prison

Read more

Background

References

News

Act now

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Act now

Write a protest letter

ShameOnAustria
Political activists in Austria face up to 5 years in prison