Wednesday, 2 October 2013 - 00:22
Letter from activist in Russian cell
Uncertainty drives the Dutch Greenpeace activist Faiza Oulahsen crazy in a Russian cell. She writes this in a letter to a co-worker. The letter was published by Greenpeace on the organization's website.30 Greenpeace activists, among whom Faiza Oulahsen, were arrested on September 19 after the Arctic Sunrise was boarded by the Russian coastguard.
They were apprehended because they attempted to occupy an oil drilling platform by Nova Zembla in the Arctic. This past weekend their detention was extended by two months.
Arctic sunrise,
Wikimedia commons,
Mz From her cell in Murmansk the Greenpeace activists shares she has no idea how this is going to end or how long it's going to take. The uncertainty drives her crazy. The circumstances are difficult. After they were initially detained on the ship, they were transferred to a cell in Murmansk. It was freezing cold and the lights were on continuously. Circumstances in the court were no better. They were locked up in filthy cages to await their trial. The activists are shielded from the world outside and the media. Oulahsen heard about the support from The Netherlands from an official from the Dutch Consulate. Touching to hear and pleased we are not forgotten, she responds. Greenpeace states on its website it will not accept the unjust way Russia deals with these nonviolent activists. The organization will appeal the months of pre-trial detention of the "Arctic 30", as Greenpeace refers to the imprisoned activists in Russia.
Wikimedia commons,
Mz From her cell in Murmansk the Greenpeace activists shares she has no idea how this is going to end or how long it's going to take. The uncertainty drives her crazy. The circumstances are difficult. After they were initially detained on the ship, they were transferred to a cell in Murmansk. It was freezing cold and the lights were on continuously. Circumstances in the court were no better. They were locked up in filthy cages to await their trial. The activists are shielded from the world outside and the media. Oulahsen heard about the support from The Netherlands from an official from the Dutch Consulate. Touching to hear and pleased we are not forgotten, she responds. Greenpeace states on its website it will not accept the unjust way Russia deals with these nonviolent activists. The organization will appeal the months of pre-trial detention of the "Arctic 30", as Greenpeace refers to the imprisoned activists in Russia.
