Zaoui supporters protest outside prison

Ahmed Zaoui

At least 200 people gathered outside Mt Eden prison today to celebrate Ahmed Zaoui's birthday and protest the second anniversary of his detention without trial.

The rally, organised by Global Peace and Justice Auckland, was attended by members of the Muslim community, trade unions, churches and members of the public carrying placards and posters calling for the Algerian's release.

Zaoui will find out on Thursday, just two days after his 44th birthday, whether the Supreme Court will release him on bail.

His lawyer Deborah Manning said Zaoui was hopeful about the bail application as the Crown had failed to come up with anything new for the court to consider.

She hoped "Mr Zaoui may finally feel the rain on his face, the sun and the wind" and read from one of the "24 contemplations" Zaoui had written- to represent the 24 months he had been in jail.

"Thank-you o native Kiwis, you have filled my loneliness. I have learned a lot from you. But in case I forget to mention - I need clean air now, because my lungs are fed up with the stale, air conditioned air of this prison."

Speakers, including former Race Relations Commissioner Gregory Fortuin, said he would never have dreamed a person would be "locked away" in New Zealand without evidence against them being tested in court.

"I stand not just for Ahmed Zaoui but for justice, for our grandchildren and for a free New Zealand."

In between chants calling for Zaoui's release singer Mahinarangi Tocker led the happy birthday song, finishing with "Somewhere over the Rainbow".