Originally published October 15 2005
Anti-war activists in Italy go on hunger strike
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
When the Italian government refused to give activists vista to speak at the International Conference for Peace in Iraq, seven leading activists went on a hunger strike. Many are supporters of the Free Iraq Committee in Italy and plan to stay in front of the Foreign Ministry building in Rome until action is taken by the Italian government.
Seven antiwar activists remain on a hunger strike in front of the Farnesina, the Italian Foreign Ministry in Rome, to protest censorship.
Leonardo Mazzei, 49, employed by national electric company and spokesman for the Italian "Free Iraq" Committee; Anika Persiani, 31, active in the "Free Iraq" Committee; Lara Wintzer, 21, active in the "Free Iraq" Committee in Germany; Ilia Montani, 20, philosophy student and activist in the Umbria Student Movement; J�rg Ulrich, 38, student and former PKK militant of the "Free Iraq" Committee in Germany; Roberto Gabriele, 66, of the international Foundation "Nino Pasti" of Rome; and Emanuele Fanesi, student-worker in Perugia active in the "Anti-Imperialist Camp" have been on strike since August 31 to protest the refusal of the Foreign Affairs Minister of Italy, Gianfranco Fini, to grant visas for six prominent Iraqi anti-occupation activists to attend the "Leave Iraq in peace - support the legitimate resistance of the Iraq people" conference in Chianciano, Italy.
The condition of the strikers remains stable as they enter their 3rd week without sustenance, prominently displaying a banner in Italian that reads "We want to see the visas".
After his horrendous experience, he founded in the "Iraqi Association of the Victims of American Occupation Prisons".
The conference organized by the Anti-Imperialist Camp, a coalition of left organizations in Europe, will bring together anti-war activists from Europe, the U.S. and the Middle East on October 1-2.
On June 28, 44 members of the US Congress wrote a letter to the Italian Ambassador, Sergio Vento, stating "concern" that "supporters of terrorist activity are planning to meet on Italian soil to plan a campaign of financial aid for terrorism".
In spite of these attempts, the strikers and the conference have received an outpouring of support from around the world.
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