Danish terror-trial on T-shirts in the Supreme Court

On the 5th and 6th of March, the T-shirt company Fighters + Lovers will stand accused of terrorism at the Supreme Court. This marks a preliminary end to one of the most unusual political trials in Denmark. The Supreme Court will either sentence the accused to imprisonment or acquit them. Democratic rights, liberation movements and terrorism are now on the agenda. The result could have major implications - not only in human terms for the defendants - but also on the possibilities of dialogue and political solutions to world conflicts. The ‘war on terror’ is not a solution.

The clothing company Fighters + Lovers states on the occasion of the trial: "The core of a democracy is the right to disagreement. Terrorist legislation attacks the right to solidarity with legitimate struggles for freedom. That is dangerous for democracy," says Michael Schølardt, Fighters + Lovers, director.

Hearings at Supreme Court

Reporters are welcome to the hearings at the Supreme Court, Prins Jørgens Gård, 1218 Copenhagen K, on the 5th of March from 8.30 am to 2.30 pm and 8.30 am to 10 pm on the 6th of March.

New collection

Fighters + Lovers will in the coming days launch a collection of specially designed watches with the motto Watch out for justice! A new range of street wear, music and a fragrance series will also be presented.

Brief overview of the T-shirt case:

- In February 2006 F+L launches a t-shirt collection in support of a poster workshop and a radio station run by PFLP and FARC. At the request of the Minister of Justice at the time, Lene Espersen, F+L is accused of supporting terrorism.

- In December 2007, the Copenhagen district court acquits F+L of all charges, seeing no basis to designate the FARC and PFLP as terrorist organisations. The Public Prosecutor appeals the court ruling.

- In September 2008, the High Court (Østre Landsret) sentences six defendants to up to six month of unconditional imprisonment. One of its judges votes for their acquittal. F+L appeals the court ruling

- March 5, 2009: The T-shirt affair begins in Supreme Court.

The T-shirt affair has been covered by international media, such as Al-Jazeera, BBC, The Guardian and Telesur.

Fighters + Lovers briefly:

Fighters + Lovers is working in the intersection of fashion, culture and politics. In an unfair world, F+L stands up for solidarity and the right to fight for freedom. F+L supports the liberation movements PFLP in Palestine and FARC in Colombia. For F+L, PFLP and FARC are neither angels nor demons: They are a people struggling against illegal occupation and the brutality and corruption of a regime.

Contact and information:

www.fightersandlovers.org fightersandlovers[a]gmail.com - Tel: +0045 2913 7138

The defendants in the T-shirt issue are among others represented by the defence lawyer Thorkild Høyer