One Million Signatures for Pastor Monteiro
Pastor Antonio Monteiro, along with Mr Bruno Amah, was arrested because an ex-convict, when interrogated by the police, said both of them were involved in human blood trafficking and in the murder of several young women. The police raided their houses, their church, and the pastor's office. No evidence was found.
Nearly 13 months later, Monteiro and Amah are still in prison—in arbitrary detention. They are not the only ones who are being held without proof in the Civil Prison of Lome.
Why did the police arrest them when they had only the testimony of an ex-convict? Was it because of their religion? Both of them are Seventh-day Adventists. Several times in recent history, members of religious minorities have been accused of blood drinking.
What was the influence of ignorance and prejudice in their arrest and detention? When we met the Minister of Justice in Lome, he clearly denied any link between the accusation and the Adventist Church. I tend to believe he is right as the Adventists are not newcomers in Togo.
But what was the opinion of those who rapidly decided to arrest them without any evidence and solely on the testimony of an ex-convict who seems to have been forced to provide names of the guilty?
Seven months ago, I visited Pastor Monteiro and Bruno Amah three times in prison. They are still there. This is why I support the petition called: One Million Signatures for the Release of Monteiro and Amah. This is why my associates, Dr Ganoune Diop and Attorney Dwayne Leslie, have met diplomats and officials and will continue to do so. If nothing happens once we have collected one million signatures, we will collect two million, three million—until justice is done and they are set free.
--Dr. John Graz, Secretary General, International Religious Liberty Association