Human rights activist undeterred by prison term.

Legendary Darwin human rights activist Stuart Highway has been released from Berrimah Jail.

Stuart was imprisoned on Tuesday, 18 October, 2005 for an offence related to the drug law-reform campaign of the Network Against Prohibition (NAP) in Darwin in Australia’s Top End.

He was sentenced to 8 months jail to be suspended after serving 3 months.

It hasn't been all plain sailing for Mr Highway while in prison. He spent 28 days in the punishment cells after refusing to provide a urine sample for a random drug test. He was labeled an Identified Drug User (IDU) and lost telephone privileges and his visits were cut back to half an hour per week.

The medium security block where Stuart was housed while not "down the back" (punishment) is extremely overcrowded. Prisoners are crammed into dormitories with no privacy and the heat and noise can become unbearable. Appearing in court for charges related to the "Parliament Invasion" case Stuart described being in Berrimah Prison as being "…in the bowels of Clare Martin's police state."

But far from breaking his spirit, this spell in jail has served to inspire Stuart Highway to fight the system even more.

Stuart said: "I'm all fired up and ready to go. Thanks, everyone, for your amazing support. You've all been terrific!"

For more information about Stuart’s case click here: http://www.napnt.org/pages/freestuarthighway.html

To arrange an interview, please ring NAPNT on 0415 16 2525 (+61 415 16 2525 from overseas).