Weekly Action and News 03/02/2023
Manchester Amnesty Weekly Action and News
Iran: Young person with mental health problem faces execution after sham trials.
Mohammad Ghobadlou is at grave risk of execution in connection with Iran’s nationwide protests. He has received two death sentences after grossly unfair sham trials, marred by torture-tainted “confessions” and failure to order rigorous mental health assessments despite his mental health issues. International law and standards prohibit using the death penalty against people with mental health problems or disabilities. This action requires you to post a letter to the Iranian Embassy in Brussels. The letter has been composed for you, but there is further information on the action page and you can, of course, modify the letter.
Our February group meeting is our AGM
It will take place on Monday 13th February 2023, at the earlier time of 6pm in the Third floor meeting room at Manchester Central Library (the same room where we held our in person meeting in December). There will be notices to direct you to the room.
This will be a hybrid meeting so that those who are unable to attend in person will be able to join online. The agenda and minutes of last year’s AGM will be circulated ahead of the meeting, together with joining details for those who join online, so please look out for them.
We will have the usual AGM business, including election of officers, a review of the past year’s work, and discussion of campaigning priorities for the forthcoming year. Please contact our chair Hazel Errey if you would like to put forward a formal resolution – hazelerrey@gmail.com
All are welcome, including new members.
Important notice about forthcoming group meetings – please read!
For various reasons, there will be some changes to our monthly group meeting times and places over the coming months.
On 13th March 2023, our usual group meeting will be replaced by a joint meeting with Freedom from Torture, with Sergei Nikitin speaking about Human Rights in Russia. It will take place at Manchester Central Library at 6pm, and full details will be provided nearer the time.
In April and May, both second Mondays are bank holidays, Easter Monday and the additional coronation bank holiday. Therefore the April meeting will take place online on Tuesday, 11th April, and the May meeting online on Tuesday 9th May.
Forthcoming event
We are pleased to announce our next Acoustic Amnesty event,
in conjunction with our friends from
Women Asylum Seekers Together (WAST).
With 6 choirs, 3 poets, a singer and a band.
Friday 17th February, 7pm,
at Sacred Trinity Church in Salford.
Please share the attached flyer and publicise this event widely.
Tickets are available here: WeGotTickets | Simple, honest ticketing | Acoustic Amnesty - choirs and friends
Good news
Zambia - On January 20, 2023, a trial brought by a class action of Zambian children and women against mining giant Anglo American South Africa opened in the High Court in Johannesburg, South Africa. The applicants, supported by Amnesty International as amicus curie, seek compensation for lead poisoning caused by the company's activities in the Zambian district of Kabwe.
United States of America - On January 24, 2023, the Supreme Court of the state of California annulled the death sentence of Billy Ray Waldon, found guilty of a triple murder committed in 1985, and ordered a new trial. In the original trial, the judge had allowed Waldon to defend himself, despite a medical report stating that he was suffering from paranoia and hallucinations.
Iran - On January 26, 2023, Abbas Dehghan, Gonabadi dervish, journalist, administrator of the Majouban Noor portal, was released from prison. Arrested in 2018, he was serving a sentence of six years and three months in prison for various "crimes against national security" related to the 2016 protests in Golestan province.
Manchester Amnesty Subgroups and other work
If you would like to join any of our subgroups, please contact the current convenors for joining details.
UAE – Next meeting Wednesday 22nd February, 6pm, on zoom, contact Kathryn Fletcher for joining link, bussk@btinternet.com
Refugees – Next meeting, Monday 6th February, 6pm, on zoom please contact Alison Wearden, if you would like to join alison.wearden@gmail.com
Anti-racism – Next meeting, Tuesday 28th February, 6pm, online, please contact Hazel Errey if you would like to join hazelerrey@gmail.com
Craftivism –Next meeting Sunday 19th February, 6pm, online, please contact Kathryn Fletcher if you would like to join bussk@btinternet.com
Individuals at Risk (bi-monthly letter writing drop ins) Next session, Saturday, 25th March 2-4pm, then 4th Saturday in May, July, September, November. Manchester Central Library, café area. Contact Anne Walker for more information anne.walker9@ntlworld.com
Other areas of work are led by:
Israel's Apartheid Against Palestinians Mike Reed mikewreed101@gmail.com
Crisis and Tactical Afghanistan, Myanmar, Syria, Ukraine, Yemen Rebecca Shaw, r.h.shaw.7@gmail.com
Europe/ Turkey, Fatih Segmen, fsegmen@yahoo.com
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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