“Belgian Activist Locks Herself in Cage to Raise Awareness for Uncle’s Arbitrary Incarceration in Iran”

2023-04-22 19:28:23

Denouncing the arbitrary incarceration of her uncle for a year in Iran, Manon Vandecasteele locked herself in a cage on the Grand-Place in Tournai on Saturday evening. The young woman intends to denounce the slowness of concrete progress for Olivier Vandecasteele.

Manon Vandecasteele locked herself up at 6 p.m. in front of a hundred people in a 2m2 steel cage installed on the Grand-Place in Tournai. Dressed in a white plastic jumpsuit, the 19-year-old knelt on the ground, then placed a black blindfold over her eyes. After a silence, the audience gave her a loud applause. “She’ll just have water, no food“, says his mother, Nathalie Vandecasteele. “She will also have access to the toilets in the caravan which is behind the cage. In case of too heavy rain, an arbor will be placed above the cage“, says his father, Joris Brabant.

During the evening, a projection of videos and songs is scheduled. This cage is a replica of the cell in which Olivier Vandecasteele stays. The objective of the action is to denounce the slowness of the procedures to release Olivier Vandecasteele.

422 days of detention

In her dungeon, Manon will try to channel the pain and worry that have been growing since February 26, 2022, the date on which she learned of the arrest by the Iranian authorities of the man who is also her godfather. He has been detained for 422 days. Manon hopes to raise awareness among the authorities working for the release of the humanitarian worker and to increase popular mobilization.

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Citizens invited to send a letter to the authorities

For 24 hours, citizens are invited to write on the spot or to deposit in a ballot box a letter addressed to the Belgian political leaders who are in charge of the file. The activist wants to collect as many messages as possible, as Olivier’s physical and psychological health is alarming. “It is vital that our authorities implement all the means at their disposal to repatriate Olivier in the coming days.“, she says.

All letters will be deposited Friday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Letters can be sent by email ([e-mail]) until Wednesday 26 April. Manon’s action will end on Sunday at 6 p.m.

Vandecasteele niece tournai action cage RTLinfo Tournai