THE campaign to release deaf charity worker Ian Stillman has won cross-party support from North Yorkshire's MPs.

Ryedale's Conservative MP John Greenway has joined Liberal Democrat Phil Willis and Labour MPs John Grogan and Hugh Bayley in demanding the Indian Government release the 51-year-old, whose parents live in Tadcaster Road, York.

All four have signed a House of Commons Early Day Motion, together with another 209 MPs who will be taking part in a special Westminster debate on Thursday.

Ian, who had a leg amputated after a road accident, has dedicated 27 years to working with India's deaf. A committed Christian, he and his Indian wife, Sue, set up the Nambikkai Foundation which has helped more than 1,000 deaf and hearing-impaired Indians to learn independence skills.

He has always denied claims that police found him carrying 20 kilograms of cannabis - a charge his family and friends find impossible to believe.

Despite being profoundly deaf and only being able to lip read English, his trial was in Hindi and he was denied a translator. He was effectively excluded from his own trial, which one human rights lawyer has described as the "worst miscarriage of justice I have dealt with".

The Evening Press has started to campaign for Ian's release.

"I am absolutely delighted that North Yorkshire MPs of all parties jointly support Ian's case," said Harrogate MP Mr Willis.

"On the sheer weight of humanitarian grounds, this man really does need to be released, but I also believe that the charges against him really do not stand up to detailed scrutiny.

"It is an absolute travesty that this man was tried in a foreign land without even being able to understand what was being said. I believe the British Foreign Office should be acting a lot more vigorously in this case."

Selby's MP Mr Grogan agreed.

He said: "I have met people who know Ian, and what has got to me is how strongly they testify to his character and how amazed they are that he was convicted.

"I do believe that what has happened to him is totally unjust. The Early Day Motion is one way that parliamentarians can contribute to this campaign."

York MP Mr Bayley has worked closely with Ian's parents and has already expressed his support.

"Ian's background and charity work for others make it impossible to believe he was involved in drugs," he said.

Mr Greenway said: "From all the evidence that we have available, it does appear that this man has suffered a gross injustice.

"We can express our view, but we are powerless to do anything but send our message to the Indian authorities. The more people who do that, the stronger that message is."

The Evening Press hopes to hand a petition signed by thousands to the Indian Government.

It can be signed at our offices in York and Malton, where copies can also be collected. It can be printed off our website, www.thisisyork.co.uk, and multiple copies can be obtained for anybody who wants to display it in shops or offices.

Updated: 10:56 Tuesday, April 09, 2002