GPJA is delighted that support for the Public Rally calling for freedom for Ahmed Zaoui is building quickly.

10,000 leaflets and 2,000 posters have been distributed and the feedback has been very positive.

The rally will give Aucklanders the opportunity to express their feelings at the 2 year detention without trial of a person who sought refuge from persecution in our country. It will call for his immediate release from Mt Eden Prison so that he start a new life as a genuine refugee in New Zealand along with his wife and family.

The rally will be MC’d by GPJA spokesperson Mike Treen and will include brief speeches by –

Deborah Manning – on behalf of the Zaoui legal team

Rev Richard Randerson – Anglican Bishop of Auckland

Rev Peter Murnane – of the Dominican Friary which has offered to host Zaoui on bail

Keith Locke – Green Party MP

Matt Robson – Progressive MP

Pita Sharples – co-leader of the Maori Party

Bill Anderson – reading a message from CTU President Ross Wilson

Dave Wakim – Palestine Human Rights Campaign and Pax Christi

Gul Zaman – for the Islamic community of Auckland

A Message from Zaoui himself will be read

Entertainers including Mahinarangi Tocker, Michelle A’Court and Jeremy Ellwood will lead entertainers and the crowd in a Happy Birthday song for Ahmed Zaoui. (Zaoui’s birthday is on 7th December)

A number of significant, symbolic events have also been included in the Rally programme.

The following week will see the bail application for Zaoui heard in the Supreme Court in Wellington.

Mike Treen – (09) 3616989 or 0212547440

John Minto – (09) 8463173 (Hm) or (09) 2745764 (Wk)

Geraldene Peters - (09) 3765994

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