Parc: Straw Pressed Over Prison Issue
The Celtic League have written to Justice Minister Jack Straw asking him to ensure the Prison Service provides access to reading materials and internal request forms in the Welsh language.
The concerns have been raised following the jailing of a language campaigner who was not allowed to take his Welsh Bible into prison. The man, who is a vegetarian, was also denied access to the vegetarian diet available because he would not complete English-only request forms.
"Mr Jack Straw MP Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Ministry of Justice 102 Petty France London SW1H 9AJ United Kingdom
03:07:09
Dear Secretary of State,
I write with reference to the imprisonment of Ffred Ffransis, a veteran language campaigner and a committed Christian who was jailed for five days earlier this year for failing to pay a fine.
I am concerned to learn that whilst in prison Mr Ffransis was refused access to a copy of the Bible in Welsh and also as a vegetarian was not provided with the vegetarian menu because he failed to fill in an English-only version of the vegetarian food request form.
I do not expect you to comment on the specifics of Mr Ffransis case however his situation has highlighted the need for the prison service to provide access for welsh speakers to reading materials (including the Bible) in their own language. Also any necessary request forms or permits should be available in Welsh as well as English.
I trust that the Ministry of Justice will raise these issues with the Prison Service.
Yours sincerely,
J B Moffatt
Director of Information Celtic League Related links here:
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
03/07/09
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