AIMS Journal, 2014, Vol 26 No 1
21 Februar y 2014
Update on the campaign to free Ágnes Geréb,
Yes, it has finally happened! Ágnes is now free from house arrest after 3 years, 4 months and 15 days deprived of her liberty.
It came about in the last days of February 2014, when the appeal made by Ágnes’s legal team about the severity of the house arrest conditions was upheld by the Court of Appeal in Budapest. The court ordered the house arrest restrictions be removed and ruled that Ágnes could now move freely around the city of Budapest and also throughout the immediate county that the capital is situated within. She is not, however, permitted to go beyond this territory nor is she allowed to advise or consult with pregnant women whatsoever.
Despite the continuance of these ‘other’ restrictions of movement etc., (and indeed the legal team may chose to challenge these), we on the campaign side consider this a great moment for Ágnes and her family and we would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you, individual and organisation alike, for helping this day arrive. We have no doubt that all the decision makers in Hungary are fully aware of just how resolute and consistent the international support has been for Ágnes as they are aware just how much attention their actions receive abroad.
In the wider scheme of things this development is a small but significant step. Ágnes still has a 2012 two-year prison sentence set against her, which Ágnes subsequently appealed to the President of Hungary and which he has publicly stated he will review once the further cases presently taking place against her in the criminal courts are finalised. We expect these current court cases to conclude either late this year or in early 2015; during this time we must leave it to Ágnes’s legal team to do their very best on her behalf. Once the courts have concluded their work and the role of the President re-emerges, the campaign team will be in contact with updates. We will also be in touch if we need specific actions from you towards influencing the President in his considerations.
But, for now, this is a special moment to savour for Ágnes even though it brings other challenges upon her and she wishes me to extend her hugs and thanks for all that you have done to make this day arrive.
With warmest regards and thanks.
Donal Kerry
Justice Campaign for Ágnes Geréb
Budapest, Hungary
Please feel free to download and share a pdf of this article. If you wish to use AIMS copyright material please see aims.org.uk/general/aims-copyright
If you found this article helpful please consider becoming an AIMS member or making a donation to support our work. We are a small charity that accepts no commercial sponsorship, in order to preserve our reputation for providing impartial, evidence-based information.
AIMS supports all maternity service users to navigate the system as it exists, and campaigns for a system which truly meets the needs of all.