Date/Time
Date(s) - 03/07/2022
8:00 pm
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Stand Up for human rights with Cardiff Amnesty and Everyman Theatre’s Cardiff Open Air Festival
The successful ‘Stand Up in the Park’ returns to Sophia Gardens, Cardiff for a fourth year on Saturday 3rd July at 8pm. Superb comics Stephen Bailey, Eleanor Tiernan and Carl Donnelly are hitting the stage, compered by Clint Edwards. Organised by Cardiff Amnesty and Everyman Theatre Cardiff, this “comedy with a conscience” event calls for the immediate release of British citizens unjustly detained in Iran.
In past years, the event joined voices across the UK putting pressure on the UK Government to secure the freedom of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who was unjustly detained in Iran for 6 years.
Nazanin’s husband, Richard Ratcliffe, has reminded us that “Laughter is a kind of freedom. It is something we can do in the outside world – to share what makes us smile, to remind them there is an outside, there are reasons to smile, that laughter keeps us human.”
While Nazanin and Anoosheh Ashoori have been released and are able to return to their loved ones in the UK, British citizens Morad Tahbaz and Mehran Raoof remain in the notorious Evin Prison in Iran. This is despite the fact that the UK government promised Morad’s family that he would be included in the release deal of Nazanin and Anoosheh.
This year’s Stand Up in the Park, will join the thousands of people across the UK calling on the UK Government to secure the immediate and unconditional release of both Morad and Mehran. We must ensure that “No One Is Left Behind”.
· Morad Tahbaz, is a 66 year old British father. He was part of a group of conservationists who were tracking endangered wildlife in Iran. He was arrested, unjustly charged with “cooperating with a hostile state against the Islamic republic” and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He is currently detained in the notorious Evin prison in Iran.
· Morad is also unwell. He has cancer and his family are increasingly worried for his welfare. He has lost a significant amount of weight and is denied adequate medical care and treatment.
Lauren Caley, chair of the Cardiff Amnesty International group, said “We were thrilled to see Nazanin and Anoosheh free and able to return home to their families after such a long and terrible ordeal. But the deal should have extended to all British citizens unjustly detained in Iran. Morad and Mehran continue to be unjustly detained at risk to their health and wellbeing. The UK Government must ensure that no one is left behind and secure their immediate release.”
Chair of the Cardiff Open Air Theatre Festival, Peter Harding-Roberts, said, “All of us in Everyman Theatre are delighted to welcome Amnesty back to Sophia Gardens after an enforced two-year break. When I first met Richard Ratcliffe at the Festival in 2017 I hoped to see Nazanin freed by the following summer. That was not to be, but I am so so pleased that I can finally borrow some words from Martin Luther King and say, “Free at last, free at last, thank god almighty she is free at last.”
To Stand Up for Human Rights and enjoy a night of comedy, purchase tickets for £15 (£10 for students) via Everyman Theatre here
The event will be on Sunday 3rd July, at 8pm, in Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.
You can add your name to Amnesty International UK’s petition to reunite Morad with his family here