Amnesty stages 'sleepwalk' protest as UK lords vote

As the British House of Lords voted against the 42 days detention limit, dozens of Amnesty International supporters donned pyjamas for a “mass sleepwalk” in protest against the measure.

The small but vocal group of demonstrators followed a route around central Leeds in their nightwear – some carrying teddy bears and others walking barefoot or wearing slippers.

The human rights campaigning organisation planned the action to coincide with the release of a film it has produced as part of its opposition to the proposed extension of the custody limit.

Amnesty said it chose Leeds to relaunch its campaign because it is targeting MPs who voted for 42 days in June but who voted against Tony Blair’s earlier plan for a 90 day limit.

It said the Yorkshire region has a high proportion of MPs who fall into this category.

Amnesty UK director Kate Allen said the walk symbolised its belief that the UK was “sleepwalking into an assault on our human rights”.

Ms Allen said: “There is a real danger here we are sleepwalking into losing our civil liberties so we are drawing attention to that today here in Leeds.

“It is absolutely essential that we defeat the 42 days – six weeks being held without any knowledge of what charges are against you or no charges at all.

“We at Amnesty International will continue our campaign until it is defeated.”

London bombings survivor Rachel North, who was also on the march, said: “I wanted to support this demonstration because I think it makes a point in a very graphic and clear way.

“We are sleepwalking into a very different world if we don’t stand up for our human rights and our civil liberties.

“I think we do need to think about what kind of world we are setting up with this kind of draconian legislation.”

After the march, the demonstrators gathered at a central Leeds nightclub to view the new Amnesty film, Sleepwalk.

Nineties club favourites The Orb, who provided the music for the film, also attended the screening.