Breaking the Silence: Stop Torture 25 May 2015

On Bank Holiday Monday St Anne’s Square was blessed with music and sunshine. Our Amnesty International group held an awareness raising day for the Stop Torture campaign. This event had been some time in the planning and we owe a great deal of gratitude to Mr Mel Stacey who was instrumental in making it happen. We were supported by local musicians who used their talent to provide some excellent music which was enjoyed by both local people and visitors. It was a tremendously successful day. It brought another dimension to the Square with live music playing from 10am until after 4pm. Members  of Amnesty, who had created an exhibition around the amphitheatre, interacted with the public and collected over 250 signatures on cards and letters  appealing to certain  governments to investigate allegations of torture used in their prisons.  We were very pleased to be joined by members of the AKS Amnesty Youth group. We were also delighted with the generosity shown by people making donations. Thank you to all who helped to make this event so successful and to all who supported us.

Click on the link to see the photographs

https://www.flickr.com/photos/132059829@N05/sets/72157653360769370

Since we held the event we have been informed that Moses Akatugba, who was one of the prisoners on whose behalf we were working, has been pardoned and is to be released.  Emmanuel Uduaghan, the Governor of Delta State, has granted a total pardon to Moses, who was 16 years old when he was arrested and he suffered appalling acts of torture at the hands of the Nigerian police. He was then sentenced to death by hanging. 

Moses has said “I am overwhelmed. I thank Amnesty International and their activists for the great support that made me a conqueror in this situation. Amnesty International members and activist are my Heroes.”