An event to highlight the imprisonment of Frenchwoman Florence Cassez Crépin takes place in the Galway City Museum this Saturday.
Ms Cassez has been imprisoned in Mexico for some years now, sentenced initially to 92 years, later reduced to 61 years, for allegedly conducting a kidnapping, However many have questioned the charge arguing that there is no evidence to support this claim and alleging that there has also been use of false witnesses in the testimony.
Ms Cassez has been refused a return to France to serve her sentence, even though this is permissible under the European rights law. Demonstrations have been organised in France and in Mexico to support her cause and support committees have been established in France, Mexico, and Canada.
Representations have been made in person by French president Nicolas Sarkozy, and more recently three Mexican politicians, representing three different parties, visited her in prison at Tepepan.
The Galway event is being organised by writer and critic Fred Johnston. There will be poetry and music and an informative talk on the Cassez case. Meanwhile the Montréal committee is working to have some relevant items shipped from France for the event, such as a painting by Florence.
“We require modest funding for this event, so that we can at least assure the Montréal committee that the shipment of such items is covered,” says Mr Johnston. “So we would be very grateful to anyone who can sponsor this.”
Mr Johnston has also been asked by the French committee to see whether he might establish a small support committee in Ireland, and anyone interested in participating should contact him on 087 - 2178138 or email [email protected]
