Fight to release man jailed for insulting Buddha
The family of a British father jailed in Myanmar for using the image of Buddha to promote his bar say they fear for his life.
Phil Blackwood - who was born in Redcar and has dual citizenship with New Zealand - was sentenced to two and a half years in March for promoting a drinks event by using a poster of Buddha wearing headphones. It is illegal to insult any religion in the county.
His cousin, Chris Blackwood, told the Victoria Derbyshire programme that he is finding prison incredibly tough and has asked the Foreign Office to intervene.
He was joined on the programme, presented by Naga Munchetty, by Laura Bevan from the charity Prisoners Abroad.
In a statement, the Foreign Office said it was continuing to discuss with the New Zealand embassy what assistance it could offer, and said it was ready to provide consular assistance for Mr Blackwood's family if requested.
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