Three young women are being held in Moscow prison for performing a "punk prayer" "Our Lady, Expel Putin!" in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. They are facing criminal charges, and a prospect of 3 years in a labour camp.

Join Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stephen Fry, Sting, Madonna, Patty Smith, Terry Gilliam and other artists in saying NO to the new holy inquisition.

--------------------

--------------------

quote:

---

Originally posted by nothingface:
[QB]This thread is not at all what I thought it was going to be...

---

^ LOL

They're essentially jailed for what would be "disorderly conduct" in the US. A pretty dumb idea to stage a "protest" during a church service. What *could* be the outcome of such a thing? I mean seriously, what if they just let the girls go with a slap on the wrist? That would essentially send the message that houses of worship are free targets for whatever soapbox issue you have. OF COURSE they're gonna get spanked, and rightfully so. I do think the length of time is a bit on the draconian side, however.

Kids these days...

All the best,
PAULIE

--------------------

Serious set of brass ones? haha. yes, these girls got balls.

Paulie, they didn't come in during the service. They came in when the church was almost empty. In a normal country, a slap of the wrist would suffice, but not in a country where pseudo-Christianity is replacing the CPSU propaganda unit, and The President is Divine.

--------------------

--------------------

--------------------

--------------------

--------------------

--------------------

--------------------

--------------------

quote:

---

Originally posted by Paulie 88:
The media circus has worked against them, now I hope they get executed. Fuck Pussy Riot.

---

Wow, Vlad's hacked into Paulie's account!?!

--------------------

--------------------

quote:

---

Originally posted by nothingface:
Looks like a couple of them have freed themselves. I'd imagine that's gonna make it a bit tougher on the last one.

---

No, the three are still in jail. The two (of the five) have never been caught, they're now trying to imprison them as well.

--------------------

quote:

---

is wearing a pussy riot balaclava an offense, wondering?

---

--------------------

Seriously though... Nonviolent civil disobedience is a crucial tool for protest and change. While I do not agree with the location they picked (Why protest Putin in a church??), I do agree with the sentiment. And it was confirmed by the clearly draconian sentences.

Plus, at least one of them is hot.

All the best,
PAULIE

--------------------

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/10/yekaterina-samutsevich-free-puss y-riot-member_n_1953739.html

--------------------

quote:

---

More than 100 internationally renowned musicians have joined a worldwide call for the release of the two jailed members of the Russian feminist punk group Pussy Riot ahead of their parole appeal hearings this week.

One of the signatories to an open letter, Yoko Ono, says: "I thank Pussy Riot for standing firmly in their belief for Freedom of Expression, and making all women of the world proud to be women."

Amnesty International coordinated the open letter by the artists as part of its on-going campaign to free Pussy Riot members 25-year-old Maria Alekhina and 23-year-old Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, who were jailed last year after taking part in a protest at Moscow’s main Orthodox cathedral.

“The Pussy Riot case has shocked musicians all over the world and we’ve had an incredible response to the call to sign this letter,” said Lucy Macnamara, Communications Manager for Art for Amnesty.

“Several musicians have told me that if you can’t sing a protest song without fear of arrest then something is badly wrong. Let’s hope the Russian authorities finally see sense and release Maria and Nadezhda.”

In the letter, the musicians pledge their support and state that the impact of Pussy Riot’s “shockingly unjust trial and imprisonment has spread far and wide, especially among your fellow artists, musicians and citizens around the world.”

The letter continues, “While understanding the sensitivities of protesting in a place of worship, we ask that the Russian authorities review these harsh sentences, so that you may return to your children, your families and your lives.”

The parole hearings on 24 and 26 July come almost a year after the start of the heavily publicized trial of Alekhina, Tolokonnikova and a third group member, Ekaterina Samutsevich. The three were charged with “hooliganism on grounds of religious hatred” after Pussy Riot performed a protest song in Moscow’s main Orthodox cathedral in February 2012. They were convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment.

Amnesty International described the outcome as a “bitter blow for freedom of expression” in Russia, and named all three Pussy Riot members prisoners of conscience.

Samutsevich was later released on probation, but appeals by Alekhina and Tolokonnikova have been turned down.

The full list of artists includes:
Bryan Adams, Adele, Alt-J, Laurie Anderson, Animal Collective, Anti-Flag, Arcade Fire, Arch Enemy, Archive, Joan Armatrading, Joan Baez, Beardyman, Jeff Beck, Yasiin Bey, björk, Rubén Blades, Billy Bragg, Jackson Browne, Peter Buck, Tracy Chapman, Chase & Status, The Chemical Brothers, Neneh Cherry, The Clash, Coldplay, Lily Rose Cooper, Dido, Django Django, Melissa Etheridge, Siobhan Fahey, Paloma Faith, First Aid Kit, Franz Ferdinand, Foster the People, fun., Peter Gabriel, Bob Geldof, Kim Gordon, Debbie Harry, PJ Harvey, Don Henley, The Hidden Cameras, Niall Horan, Billy Joel, Sir Elton John, Ke$ha, Angelique Kidjo, The Knife, Mark Knopfler, Tom Lehrer, Sean Lennon, Annie Lennox, Lykke Li, Sir Paul McCartney, Romy Madley-Croft, Madonna, Zayn Malik, Stephen Malkmus, Marina & the Diamonds, Johnny Marr, Massive Attack, Mike Mills, Moby, Thurston Moore, Tom Morello, Alanis Morissette, James Morrison, Graham Nash, Kate Nash, Youssou N'Dour, Karen O, Yoko Ono, Clock Opera, Ozzy Osbourne, Liam Payne, Peaches, Joe Perry, Phoenix, Rain Phoenix, Portishead, Portugal. The Man, Cat Power, Radiohead, Bonnie Raitt, Rise Against, Patti Scialfa, Scissor Sisters, Paul Simon, Sleigh Bells, Patti Smith, Esperanza Spalding, Bruce Springsteen, Dave Stewart, Sting, Michael Stipe, Harry Styles, Neil Tennant, Louis Tomlinson, Pete Townshend, K T Tunstall, U2, Eddie Vedder.

---

Maybe Voivod could sign too?

--------------------