The Vegan Society is a peaceful organisation promoting a healthy diet for the benefit of people, animals and the environment.

The Board of the Vegan Society is deeply concerned about the arrest and detention without charge on 21st May 2008 of members of our sister organisation the Austrian Vegan Society and similar groups. We understand that those arrested have now been interned for a further four weeks.

We are especially concerned for the welfare of the Chair of the Austrian Vegan Society, Felix Hnat, and about the disruption to the Austrian Vegan Society office and its work.

We ask that the equipment confiscated be returned promptly and that the
arrested individuals be immediately released or charged.

Notes for Editors

1. For more information, please contact The Vegan Society Media Relations officer, Amanda Baker (Email: media [at] vegansociety [dot] com, 0121 523 1737 and 07847 664 793) or our out-of-hours media contacts, George Rodger (Aberdeen 07713 848 663) and Stephen Walsh (London, 07967 361 510).