Amnesty urges film goers to help end torture

An Amnesty International campaigner will make the appeal before the Northern Ireland premiere of  'Taking Liberties' at the Queens Film Theatre on Wednesday (23rd August) and will be distributing campaign materials to the audience.

The film focuses on the erosion of human rights and civil liberties in the UK, including the plight of British victims of torture such as former Guantanamo prisoner Moazzam Begg.

Amnesty International's Northern Ireland Programme Director Patrick Corrigan said:

'This film is a wake-up call for us all. Sadly human rights, which have been won by ordinary people over centuries of struggle, are being swept aside by the government. In particular, we want to draw attention to the fact that the UK government has stood back and let its ally in the 'war on terror' commit acts of torture.

'Belfast film-goers can play their part in speaking out against torture and that's what we are asking them to help us with.'

Taking Liberties plays at the QFT on Wednesday, through to Saturday this week.

Film publicity information:
'TAKING LIBERTIES uncovers the stories the government don't want you to hear - so ridiculous you will laugh, so ultimately terrifying you will want to take action. Teenage sisters detained for 36 hours for a peaceful protest; an RAF war veteran arrested for wearing an anti-Bush and Blair T-shirt; an innocent man shot in a police raid; and a man held under house arrest for two years, after being found innocent in court. Ordinary law-abiding citizens being punished for exercising their 'rights' - rights that have been fought for over centuries, and which seem to have been extinguished in a decade.'

'Irreverent but revelatory, outrageous but true, TAKING LIBERTIES combines these real stories of liberty loss with never-seen-before footage, cheeky stunts and comment from Mark Thomas, leading politicians, celebrities, human rights organisations, academics and lawyers. Narration from Ashley Jensen (EXTRAS, UGLY BETTY); a pumping soundtrack with tracks by Oasis, Radiohead, Stranglers and Franz Ferdinand; and the presence of Kurt Engfehr, producer of FAHRENHEIT 9/11 and BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE add up to make TAKING LIBERTIES the most explosive and controversial film to hit screens this summer.'