Lydia and Bernard Must Stay Campaign
In his speech Morpurgo told the story of Lydia Besong, an English teacher and playwright who sought asylum in the UK in 2006 after experiencing persecution for her peaceful political activities in her home country of Cameroon.
He said: "It is clear that if she is deported back to Cameroon she will be in grave danger, in a country where as Amnesty says, freedom of expression is stifled, and conditions in prison are harsh, often life threatening. In this country where we think we supposedly so value our free speech, do we sometimes turn a blind eye when it is convenient, do we walk by on the other side?"
Morpurgo has previously spoken up for Lydia Besong when she was detained and threatened with forced removal in January 2012. He is now showing support for her in the run up to her appeal hearing on 20 April.
Lydia Besong's first play, How I Became an Asylum Seeker, was performed in 2010 in London. Her new play, Down with the Dictator, was performed for the first time on 27 March 2012 in Bristol Festival of International Theatre.
For more information about the campaign, please contact Kath Grant: 07812471047