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| Call to set free rights activist | Call to set free rights activist |
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| Twenty-two Nobel laureates from around the world have appealed to the Indian government to release jailed human rights activist Binayak Sen. | Twenty-two Nobel laureates from around the world have appealed to the Indian government to release jailed human rights activist Binayak Sen. |
| The appeal has been made in a letter to India's president and prime minister. | |
| They say Dr Sen should be allowed to travel to the US to receive the Jonathan Mann Award for Global Health and Human Rights announced in April. | |
| Dr Sen has been held in prison accused of links to Maoist rebels for nearly a year. He denies the charge. | Dr Sen has been held in prison accused of links to Maoist rebels for nearly a year. He denies the charge. |
| 'Grave concern' | 'Grave concern' |
| The Nobel Prize-winning scientists and economists said in the letter that Dr Sen should be allowed to receive the award in Washington on 29 May. | The Nobel Prize-winning scientists and economists said in the letter that Dr Sen should be allowed to receive the award in Washington on 29 May. |
| "We also wish to express grave concern that Dr Sen appears to be incarcerated solely for peacefully exercising his fundamental human rights," the letter said. | "We also wish to express grave concern that Dr Sen appears to be incarcerated solely for peacefully exercising his fundamental human rights," the letter said. |
| This is "in contravention of Articles 19 (freedom of opinion and expression) and 22 (freedom of association) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights - to which India is a state party - and that he is charged under two internal security laws that do not comport with international human rights standards," it added. | This is "in contravention of Articles 19 (freedom of opinion and expression) and 22 (freedom of association) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights - to which India is a state party - and that he is charged under two internal security laws that do not comport with international human rights standards," it added. |
| A press release issued by Free Binayak Sen Campaign says hundreds of people across the globe will be holding protest demonstrations on 14 May - the first anniversary of his arrest - demanding his immediate release. | A press release issued by Free Binayak Sen Campaign says hundreds of people across the globe will be holding protest demonstrations on 14 May - the first anniversary of his arrest - demanding his immediate release. |
| Campaigns are planned across several Indian cities including New Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore and Calcutta. | Campaigns are planned across several Indian cities including New Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore and Calcutta. |
| Protests will also be held in London, Paris, Stockholm and Toronto and 10 north American cities including New York. | Protests will also be held in London, Paris, Stockholm and Toronto and 10 north American cities including New York. |
| Conferring the award on Dr Sen last month, the Global Health Council said he was chosen for his services to poor and tribal communities. | Conferring the award on Dr Sen last month, the Global Health Council said he was chosen for his services to poor and tribal communities. |
| He was also chosen for what the council called his unwavering commitment to civil liberties and human rights. | He was also chosen for what the council called his unwavering commitment to civil liberties and human rights. |
| Dr Sen is also the vice president of the Indian human rights group People's Union for Civil Liberties. | Dr Sen is also the vice president of the Indian human rights group People's Union for Civil Liberties. |
| The Mann award is given yearly in memory of Dr Jonathan Mann, an epidemiologist who set up the World Health Organisation's first Aids programme. | The Mann award is given yearly in memory of Dr Jonathan Mann, an epidemiologist who set up the World Health Organisation's first Aids programme. |
| The award was decided by an international jury of public health professionals. | The award was decided by an international jury of public health professionals. |