German and Spanish peace activists have been banned from entering Portugal and the ICC – the international anti-NATO coordination committee with more than 650 organisations from more than 30 countries – protests against the prohibition of entry for two Spanish peace activists from the alternativa antimilitarista-moc and German activist Lucas Wirl.

The co-worker of IALANA Germany is a speaker for the International Counter Summit and took an active part in the preparation of multiple peaceful protests in Lisbon.

One of the two Spanish activists was strip-searched at the border, both were photographed, and were given a written warning.

This deeply undemocratic measure shows again that war as an instrument of international affairs always leads to the internal destruction of democracy.

Why do NATO and the governement of Portugal react to critism and a critical spirit with a prohibition of entry?

The ICC wants the government of Portugal to rescind this prohibition immediately and to re-establish freedom of expression.

The ICC and especially its German member organisations such as IALANA and IPPNW call on the German Foreign Affairs Office to urgently contact the government of Portugal in order to make possible the participation of Lucas Wirl.

History has shown that whoever responds to critisism and conflict with repression will fail.

More information at our online press briefing at 14:00 Portuguese time on:

www.no-to-nato.org