Manchester Amnesty Fortnightly Action and News 21/02/2025
Manchester Amnesty Fortnightly* Action and News
*It’s not a typo! We are trialling a reduced frequency of the Action and News, which will now be fortnightly. Feedback welcome!
Please do this action and make a difference
On 20th February, Amnesty International UK launched a new report called “Automated Racism: How police data and algorithms code discrimination into policing”. You can download a copy here.
The report describes how data-based and data-driven systems which attempt to predict when and where crime will be committed, and by whom, draw on data which is biased by structural and institutional racism and other forms of discrimination. This results in the repeated targeting of more deprived areas, including those with higher populations of Black and racialised people, and the violation of many rights. These include the rights not to be discriminated against, to a fair trial and a presumption of innocence, to privacy and to freedom of assembly. Amnesty is calling on the Minister for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention to prohibit the use of automatic and ‘predictive’ policing systems in England and Wales. You can add your name to the AIUK petition by clicking the link below.
The next monthly group meeting, which will take place online at 7pm on Monday 10th March, will be our Annual General Meeting. Papers for this meeting (Notice/draft agenda, Minutes of last AGM and Treasurers report) will be sent out in a separate email one week before the meeting.
Please look out for them.
***THIS EVENING*** MANCHESTER AMNESTY SILENT VIGIL for Palestine and Israel
St Peters Square, Manchester, Friday 21st February, 5-6pm.
Please do not bring placards, banners or flags.
We will provide placards with Amnesty’s messages, and tea-lights. Feel free to bring your friends.
Non Amnesty events and actions
***FREE EVENT*** At the start of Women’s History Month
The Margaret Ashton Lecture 2025 will celebrate the life of Shena Simon 1883-1972
pioneer in women’s education and rights, with a lecture by Dr Charlotte Wildman.
Saturday March 1st, 2:00-4:00 pm. Mechanics Institute, 103 Princess St., M1 6DD
Organised by Trailblazers, partners include Manchester Labour History Group and Manchester City Archives, plus a Manchester Amnesty stall. All welcome. Register to attend here.
Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine and other organisations
Rise up against Israel’s ethnic cleansing of Palestine!
Demonstration, 12 noon, Saturday 22nd February, Manchester Cathedral, M1SX
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
Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine Fundraising event
Tuesday 11th March, 7.30pm, Carlton Club, Whalley Range, M16 8BE
Screening of the film “No Other Land”
Directed by Palestinian activist Basel Adra and Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham, the film documents their five-year struggle against the mass expulsion of Palestinian communities in Masafer Yatta. It offers an unflinching account of their fight for justice and the complex bond they share amidst extreme inequality. Read the five-star Guardian review here.
Entry is free; all monies collected will be donated to projects in Masafer Yatta.
Reserve your place here – be quick, as this film is not being shown elsewhere in Manchester.
Good news
Israel / Occupied Palestinian Territory - On February 8, 2025, Shahen Quos, a Palestinian artist and a law student at Birzeit University, was released from prison, without charge or trial, after spending over two months in administrative detention.
Turkey - On February 11, 2025, Mücella Yapıcı (f), Hakan Altınay (m) and Yiğit Ekmekçi (m), three of the people involved in the 2013 movement for the defence of Istanbul's Gezi Park, were acquitted. Their initial 18-year sentence had been overturned on appeal in 2023. This new trial established their innocence.
Poland - On February 13, 2025, the Court of Appeal annulled, ordering a new trial, the sentence of eight months community service which had been imposed in 2023 on Justyna Wydrzyńska. One of the founders of the Abortion Dreem Team, Justina had been convicted of helping a woman who had suffered domestic violence to have an abortion in 2020.
Iran - On February 11, 2025, journalists Niloufar Hamedi and Elaheh, arrested in September 2022 for breaking the news of Mahsa Amini's death in police custody, were pardoned. Accused of collusion against national security, they were originally sentenced to 13 and 12 years, later reduced to 5 years prior to their release on bail in January 2024.
Pakistan - On February 16, 2025, the Lahore High Court acquitted Sajid Ali, who in 2023 had been sentenced to death under the laws against blasphemy for "offenses against religious figures of Islam.
The next Fortnightly Action and News will be on 7th March
Manchester Amnesty issue and campaign coordinators
Anti-racism –Hazel Errey hazelerrey@gmail.com
Europe/ Turkey Fatih Segmen - fsegmen@yahoo.com
Human Rights in the UK volunteer needed
Individuals at Risk (bi-monthly appeal writing drop ins and Write for Rights in Nov/Dec) please let us know if you are interesting in organising this activity.
Israel's Apartheid Against Palestinians - Mike Reed mikewreed101@gmail.com
LGBTQ+ and Pride – Zoe Song weiyi.zoe.song@gmail.com
Press freedom and Julian Assange – Lima Al-iskalachi limazakoor@gmail.com & Danny Jones dannyj644@gmail.comsu
Prevent campaign
Refugees Whatsapp group – Alison Wearden alison.wearden@gmail.com
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.
Alison Wearden
Communications Secretary
Manchester Group of Amnesty International
Please contact me with items for our Weekly Action and News email, or with ideas for longer articles for the quarterly Manchester Amnesty Group Bulletin.
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