FOLLOWING successful proests across the world in suppor of Roisin McAliskey on March 8, International Women's Day, British authorities have been forced to concede that she will be able to keep her baby with her While the decision to allow her to keep her child is an important step forward it is vital that the campaign maintains momentum to secure her release.
McAliskey has been imprisoned since November 1996 for supposed involvement with the bombing of the Osnabruck bomb. ing in Germany.
She is likely to become the only Category A prisoner to have ever ch out a son and he cvi liberties implications of her treat. ment is berinning to raise obiec tions from many who have taken little interest in irish politics Over the past months she has been strip searched hundreds of times despite the fact that on most occasions the visits she has been allowed have been "closed" - that Noor to ceiling has separated bcc On March 7 her status was changed from Category A high risk to Category A standard risk as in her support. This will mean a rcaucaon in tac number of stup scarches and more possibility of mixing with other women.
The German government have made clear that they have no ob. jection to her being bailed - it is the British state and the RUC who are responsible for her incarceration.
Her solicitor Gareth Pierce told a packed London meeting organised by Fuascailt (the Irish republican prisoner support group) that "if she were charged here tomor row there would be no requirecase; there isn't a case" Pierce also explained that she had never seen a prisoner treated so badly - some feat given Pierce's involvement with other Irish prisoncis whe have been abominably treated such as the Guildford Four. been surprised that Bernadcue michisikcy, addressing the same meeting on March 7 spent little of her time dealing with the specific plight of her daughter. But those who know anything about her PCIC HOS While clearly angry about what has been happening to Roisin she concentrated on an exposition of the history of anti-Irish racism cism faced by the black commuIn London over 300 mainly women protesters festooned with balloons in International Women's Day colour of purple, green and white gathered outside Holloway prison to show solidarity with Roisin. Pouring scorn on Bnitish courts: Bernadette McAliskey Hundreds of bouquets had been delivered from supporters across the world but only a token number were allowed into the prison. Roisin asked that the rest go to Women's Aid refugees - marking her own commitment to the primary arca of her political activity.
The all-women platform at the rally included contributions by Shelia Kitzinger from the Birth Control Trust, Bernadette Mc Aliskey, Ann Rossiter from Women and Ireland and many others. Encertainment was provided by the Women's Choir and by Southall Black Sisters.
The latter adapted songs they have sung in campaigning for the release of Kiranjit Allowallia, Sarah Thornton and other women imprisoned after defending themselves against domestic violence.
The sing-along choruses which resulted may not have cold Roisin's story in the most tuneful way, but they were an important part of the day's encrsy and strengt This was one of the most lively and committed international Women's Day mobilisations in London for some years Other actions took place in Germany, Ireland, Norway Australia and the USA.
Let's build on the momentum to demand Rosin's release.