Our friend, 67 years old, born in a poor family, was discontent with the surrounding social realities, he realized his protest in practice and ended up to a prison in first time when 17 years old. Since then, he was illegally incarcerated five more times - by fascist regime of Portugal (until 1974) and by current democratic state. He used his time inside by reading, self-educated by gathering more knowledge on the world around. Antonio is a self-learned libertarian.
Among the acts for which he was accused and sentenced are expropriations from ruling classes, and storming of death camp "Prison Escola de Leiria" - after this he was stolen years from his life. He was also sentenced for murdering a guard of a factory when defending himself, and of arson against the same factory. His last sentence, totally unproven and totally in a conflict with procedural norms he got in a fantastic process, he was accused of kidnapping a heroin courier, who was wanted by authorities, and for participation in robberies.
Since the year 2005 he has been transferred twice. First time for participation in a strike of prisoners against a "reform" in prison, which worsened conditions of the prisoners. In order to crush the strike, a number of prisoners were taken to other prisons. Antonio was moved to North of Portugal, as far as possible from people who were supporting him: almost all of them were living in the South. Then there came a new order and he was sent to prison of "Pinheiro da Cruz". Reasons for this are unclear. Meanwhile he had his first parole hearing, although he had been eligible for parole for two years already.
It was always very difficult to find a lawyer for him, but back then he could find one. But soon he was moved to "Pinhero da Cruz", and denied parole.
Soon Antonio applied for a temporary leave from prison (this may allow up to 8 days leave), which was also denied. We do not know how judges and prisoncrats motivated the denial, but we know that such a refusal is an unusual phenomena. Many prisoners, who were sent to "Pinhero da Cruz" after him, got a permission for a temporary leave and parole.
Since then, two more appeals of him for a temporary leave have been denied, and he is expecting yet another decision on parole. Hearing should have taken place 24th of July already, but Judge decided otherwise.
This far the only message which Antonio has received from judges, is that half of this sentence will be done in May of 2008! According to his lawyer, such calculation of half of his term is illegal - half of the term should be half of the number of days from beginning to end of the prison term (rather logical, isn't it?). If this court statement would be correct, sentence of Antonio should be 28 years, whereas the maximum sentence according to Portugal laws is 25 years.
All this speaks about life sentence, given by the system. If we compare case of Antonio with practice with other prisoners, Antonio should have been released 4 years ago already!
Persecution of Antonio has clear personal and political motivation. There is no any reasons to refuse temporary leave from him, but these reasons are figured out by the system, and the very same with his parole.
As a person, who never quits fighting for his rights and consciousness, who never lets his mouth to be shut, who is always active in resistance against the prison regime, Antonio is discriminated by the machinery of "justice".
For this he has spent more than 43 years in prison, and is considered by the prison system as one of the most dangerous prisoners in Portugal.
He uncovered violations of human rights and corruption from side of prisoncrats, he was also testifying in a court case, where prison officials were accused of the murder of a fellow prisoner. His stay in prison is a constant risk to his life, already for a long time he has been constantly threaten with being murdered and is horribly tortured.
Taking into account all of this, and also because we are against any prisoners, a collective to support Antonio Ferreira is organising an international campaign to free Antonio. First thing to do is to spread information on situation facing him. It must be spread as wide as possible. All translations of this text and other texts on Antonio are welcome!
Contact us for any new information and propositions and for exchange of ideas: antonioferreira(at)no-log.org.
If you wish to write, or to send stuff (books, journals, materials for maintaining correspondence, food, clothes or anything that could be useful), or you would like to visit him, this is address of Antonio in prison:
Antonio Ferreira de Jesus
E P Pinheiro da Cruz
7570 Grandola
PORTUGAL
More information : Collective Libertad Antonio Ferreira
Also : Portugese Prisoner Receives Death Threats From Guards.