Appeal for testimony
before The Fifth International
Russell Tribunal on Human Rights in Psychiatry
at the Urania-Haus, An der Urania 17, 10787 Berlin, Germany, from June 29 to July 2, 2001

We seek persons victimized by psychiatric coercion to give evidence about their experiences before the Fifth International Russell Tribunal on Human Rights in Psychiatry. The idea for the Russell Tribunal is based on the Vietnam War Crimes Tribunal of the sixties. The World Psychiatric Association has been invited to defend itself in Berlin 2001. We plan to continue the Fifth International Russell Tribunal on Human Rights in Psychiatry in New York and Jerusalem, in 2002 and 2003.

Elvira Manthey, David Oaks, Hagai Aviel, Pat Deegan, Wolf-Dieter Narr, Kate Millett, René Talbot, Thomas Saschenbrecker, Matthias Seibt, Brigitte Siebrasse

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If you are willing to give evidence at the trial, please send a summary of the most important facts of your psychiatric biography (one page) with a contact address to:

Freedom of Thought Office
Vorbergstraße 9a
10823 Berlin
Germany

Please, refer to the questions below in your summary. We guarantee absolute discretion concerning the material we receive. It is also possible to remain anonymous for the public during the trial. Witnesses will be refunded their travel and hotel costs. For more information, please check this webpages.

• Do you believe that your dignity and privacy rights have been invaded by being forced to undergo examination of your mental condition?
• Do you believe that your reputation, social relations, lodging, or employment opportunities have been damaged and diminished by your being accused of mental illness by a psychiatrist?
• Have your political or religious views been dismissed as coming from a lunatic? If so, was the accusation of mental illness made intentionally to silence your point of view?
• Has your right to liberty been denied by involuntary incarceration in a mental institution without a demonstration that you have committed a crime?
• Were conditions in the institution below decent standards of cleanliness and comfort?
• Were you physically or chemically restrained? Were you otherwise mistreated or tortured?
• Have you been forced to undergo psychiatric treatment you rejected?
• Have you been permanently harmed?
• If you were accused of criminal conduct, were you denied even the usual criminal procedure because of an accusation of mental illness?
• Were you deprived of your property, or the control over your property, in violation of your right to property, by a determination that you were mentally ill?
• Were you declared legally incompetent on the basis of psychiatric examination / diagnosis?
• Do you have any other complaints against psychiatric practices forced on you?