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On Wednesday, June 10th, FARM staff and volunteers protested outside of the Austrian Embassy in response to the severe mistreatment and unjust charges currently held against animal advocates by the Austrian government (see background information below). The demonstration was one of many protests organized around the world in honor of the International Day of Protest Against Government Repression in Austria.

For more than an hour, activists gathered and marched in front of the Austrian Embassy chanting messages and carrying large signs reading “Stop Austrian Repression,” “Activism is NOT a crime,” “Protect Free Speech,” and “Stop Silencing Activists!” Protesters expressed outrage at the current treatment of animal advocates by the Austrian government and demanded that all charges against these individuals be dropped.

During the demonstration, FARM President and Founder, Alex Hershaft, entered the building to meet with the embassy's public information officer, Wolfgang Renezeder. Friendly and apologetic, Mr. Renezeder noted that Austria has enacted the most advanced animal protection laws in the world and that the use of Article 278a against animal activists and the long imprisonment have been a source of deep embarrassment to the Foreign Ministry and to the country in general.

FARM will continue to take a stand and speak out against the Austrian government until this injustice is stopped.

Background Information:

Last year the homes and offices of ten leading Austrian animal advocates were raided and these individuals were kept in solitary confinement for several months. This has been shown to be part of a two year investigation which has resulted in twenty-six homes and seven NGO office searches, informants, wiretaps, e-mail surveillance and personal and vehicle tracking. All of the time, money and resources dedicated to this has yielded no direct evidence of any criminal activity by these individuals.

The Austrian Minister of Justice is now expanding the repression of animal activists by planning to charge thirty more individuals beyond the ten who were imprisoned last year.

For more information, visit http://www.vgt.at.