Councillor plans Twitter protest to mark imprisoned Kamal's birthday

3.30.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 8th Oct 2009

Local Lib Dem campaigner Cllr Ben Williams is planning a protest on Twitter (the social networking tool) on Saturday to mark the birthday of Kamal Labwani, peaceful campaigner for democratic reform in Syria.

Kamal spent several weeks in Basildon in 2005 and became very fond of the town and its people.

Imprisoned since his return to Syria, a painting by Kamal was unveiled in the Bas Centre earlier this week.

Cllr Ben Williams commented:

"Kamal said he thought Basildon was a special place, full of wonderful people. He believes Basildon has played a vital role in helping him draw attention to the political situation in Syria.

Kamal's birthday is on Saturday and he remains in prison in Syria. I want to use Twitter to draw attention to the continuing injustice of his imprisonment.

At midnight I will send a message that I will ask friends and colleagues to repeat to their friends and colleagues.

I want it to go as far and as wide as possible."

Cllr Ben Williams added:

"If any Echo readers want to join in, you are welcome to follow me on Twitter on bpwilliams72."

ENDS

Note to Editors

1. Facebook page for Kamal Labwani:http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2387354014

2. Flickr gallery of pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bpwilliams/collections/72157622412548243/

3. Human Rights Watch story on the UN opinion on Kamal's illegal detention: http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/04/29/syria-un-rules-dissident-s-detention-illegal