Seaman Guard Ohio crew detained 1,000 days in India on 7 July

Seaman Guard Ohio, are among 35 crew onboard the vessel who will be detained in India for 1,000 days on 7 July, and earlier in 2016 were jailed for five years.

The Missions to Seafarers and families of the six British men under detention will lobby parliament in the Boothroyd Room in Portcullis House from 10am to 11.30am tomorrow. A petition signed 350,000 people will also be handed to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street.

“Yet again we are bringing to the attention of all, the fact that men tasked with protecting seafarers from pirate attack are themselves ‘under attack’,” said Revd Canon Ken Peters, director of justice and public affairs for The Mission to Seafarers who will be speaking at the lobby.  

“The unwarranted detention of the crew of the MV Seaman Guard Ohio, in India, because of their possession of armaments used to defend against criminal violence, has dragged on for 1,000 days. There is still no end in sight for the judicial process which has been subjected to adjournment after adjournment, delay after delay. Whilst pirates roam free, the crew and guards are held in prison.  This really is the wrong way round.”

Lisa Dunn sister of one of the detained men Nick Dunn said: “Never would any of us have ever imagined back in 2013 that we would still be living through this very real nightmare in 2016.”

“My brother and his 34 colleagues are currently locked away in a prison after being handed a five year sentence in January, having to exist in the most horrific of conditions when there is overwhelming evidence proving their innocence.

“This is what I am fighting for and this is what I will continue to fight for until they are all back home safely with their families. I will not give up the fight for justice and their freedom.”