Human rights festival

The event has been organised by Peace and Justice in East London and will be held at the Pastoral Centre, Our Lady of Lourdes Church, in Cambridge Park Road, Wanstead.

The festival will start at 7.30pm and will include a showing of the video War no More, and a discussion on detention without trial will also he held.

Taking part in the event will be Hugo Charlton from Campaign Against Criminalising Communities, Daniel Guedalla from Birmberg Peirce Solicitors who is currently representing the detainees being held indefinitely at Belmarsh Prison, and Angela Wright from Amnesty International.

The evening will also see a drama put together by representatives from different faith groups and a variety of stalls.

Campaigner for Peace and Justice in East London Paul Donovan said: "This is a very important meeting drawing together people of all faiths and none to discuss issues like detention without trial and alternatives to war.

"We are living in dangerous times and people need to be vigilant towards others who are offering offer security in exchange for their most basic human rights."

The event will have the backing of several local religious leaders who signed a statement on Sunday expressing their growing concern regarding the continued detention without trial of 14 foreign nationals in Belmarsh Prison, and the detention of suspects in Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

The statement is signed by Father Joe Silver of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Reverend Robert Springett of Christchurch in Wanstead, Reverend John Edwards of the United Reformed Church in Wanstead, Doctor Mohammed Fahim of Qurani Murkuz Trust in South Woodford, Rabbi Rebecca Qassim-Birk of the Woodford Progressive Synagogue, Arvinder Singh of the Seven Kings Guadhara and Mrs R Patel, the president of the Whipps Cross Road temple.