Manchester Amnesty Fortnightly Action and News 18/4/2025
Manchester Amnesty Fortnightly Action and News
Please do this action and make a difference
Mohamed Benhlima, a former military officer, whistleblower and anti-corruption activist who was forcibly returned from Spain on 24 March 2022, is serving a life sentence in the Blida military prison stemming from the exercise of his rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. He has complained to the court of torture and other ill-treatment, including sexual violence, prolonged solitary confinement and beatings at least six times since May 2022, most recently on 8 December 2024, but the Algerian authorities have not announced an investigation. Amnesty International is calling on the authorities to quash his convictions and sentences, drop any further charges stemming from his exercise of human rights and release him immediately. You can add your voice by clicking the link below.
No vigil this evening, Friday 18th April.
We resume as usual next week, Friday, 25th April.
Please join us for the launch of Amnesty International UK’s new report
“Social Insecurity: the Devastating Human Rights Impact of Social Security Failures in the UK”
Thursday 8 May 2025, 6.30-8.00 pm, Friends Meeting House, Mount Street, Manchester.
Speakers, discussion, opportunities to network. Refreshments will be provided.
AIUK have chosen to launch this major new report in Manchester, so it would be good if as many of us as possible could attend. If you are able to help out with registration, stewarding etc. on the evening, please let me know (alison.wearden@gmail.com) and I will pass your name to the organisers. Please advertise widely to your communities and organisations.
Register for the event here. The event will be live-streamed.
North West Amnesty Human Rights & Arts Festival, Sefton Park, Liverpool, 7th June
There will be an online meeting at 5.30pm on 23rd April to plan Manchester’s contribution.
If you wish to join, please contact alison.wearden@gmail.com for the zoom link.
The event is still short of funds. Please advertise this Justgiving page widely!
Other events and actions
International Conscientious Objectors Day, Thursday, May 15th
12 noon-1pm, Peace Garden, Lincoln Square, Manchester.
Stand in solidarity with Conscientous Objectors, including “Sasha” who has refused to fight in Russia and the Refusers Network in Israel.
If anyone would like to do a reading, please let alison.wearden@gmail.com know and I will pass your email address on to the organisers.
JENGBA (Joint Enterprise Not Guilty by Association)
have released a series of podcasts featuring Maxine Peake:
“In It Together: The Joint Enterprise Podcast”
With many personal illustrations of joint enterprise cases, well worth a listen!
You can listen to the first two now. Search Apple Podcasts, Spotify or other podcast sites.
Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine and other organisations
Whalley Range Peace and Justice Stand with Palestine
Each Wednesday 4.30-5.30 at Brooks Bar M16 7RN
Didsbury against genocide, rally, every Wednesday, 5.30-6.30pm outside the Library.
Levenshulme Peace and Justice for Palestine All out for Palestine
Each Thursday, 5-6pm, Levenshulme Village Green, junction of Stockport Rd & Chapel St
Good news
Paraguay - On April 2, 2025, Fr. Vida Britez, arrested on March 26 because of his commitment to the environment, and whose case was taken up by Amnesty International as an Urgent Action, was released from prison and placed under house arrest.
Italy - On April 3, 2025, the Court of Appeal of Florence upheld the convictions of ten prison officers, for torture inflicted in 2018 on a person detained in prison San Gimignano prison (Siena).
Zimbabwe - On April 6, 2025, after the official abolition of the death sentence on December 31, 2024, the High Court began reviewing the death sentences of about 60 prisoners, with a view to commuting them.
Israel / Occupied Palestinian Territory - On April 10, 2025, Palestinian Ahmad Manasra was released after almost 10 years spent in an Israeli prison, two of which were in solitary confinement. Arrested at 13 years old, in 2016 he was sentenced for an attempted murder despite evidence that he had not taken part in it. Amnesty International had been campaigning for him.
The next Fortnightly Action and News will be on 2nd May.
Manchester Amnesty issue and campaign coordinators
Anti-racism –Hazel Errey hazelerrey@gmail.com
Human Rights in the UK volunteer needed
Individuals at Risk bi-monthly drop in Liz Carter lizcarter64@yahoo.co.uk
Israel's Apartheid Against Palestinians - Mike Reed mikewreed101@gmail.com
LGBTQ+ and Pride – Fynn Kawe fynnkawe@gmail.com
Press freedom and Julian Assange – Lima Al-iskalachi limazakoor@gmail.com & Danny Jones dannyj644@gmail.comsu
Prevent campaign – Tom Milnes thomashmilnes@gmail.com
Refugees - Caroline Glendinning caroline.glendinning@york.ac.uk and Alison Wearden
UAE - Kathryn Fletcher bussk@btinternet.com
Our website Manchester | Amnesty International UK [amnesty.org.uk] (managed by Alison Wearden)
X/Twitter @amnestymanc [twitter.com] (managed by Steve Lindsay – stevenjameslindsay@gmail.com)
Facebook Manchester Amnesty Group [facebook.com] MANAGER NEEDED!
Instagram @amnestymanchester [instagram.com] Lucy Downing lucy.dow@outlook.com is looking after this until we can appoint a permanent manager.
Digital design coordinator Fynn Kawe fynnkawe@gmail.com
Alison Wearden
Communications Secretary
Manchester Group of Amnesty International.
Please contact me on alison.wearden@gmail.com with items for our Fortnightly Action and News, or with ideas for longer articles for the quarterly Manchester Amnesty Group Bulletin (Mar, Jun, Sep, Dec).
Group email address: manchestergroup@amnesty.org.uk
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