Weekly Action and News 06/12/2024
Manchester Amnesty Weekly Action and News
Please do this action and make a difference
This week’s email action comes from this year’s Write for Rights Campaign.
In 2019, Oqba Hashad was wrongly arrested by Egypt’s National Security Agency, simply because of his brother Amr Hashad's human rights activism. While other students arrested alongside him were released, Oqba has been held in pretrial detention for over five years, enduring unimaginable torture and denied essential medical care. His health is deteriorating, his prosthetic leg is broken, and his mental well-being has been severely compromised. Despite a judge ordering his release, Egyptian prosecutors have kept Oqba imprisoned. His only crime is being related to someone who defends human rights.
Click the link below to send an email to the Egyptian president, in support of Amnesty’s demand for his immediate and unconditional release from detention.
On 5th December, Amnesty International published a major new report
“You feel like you are subhuman: Israel’s Genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza.”
The report can be accessed here and an executive summary here.
You can also watch a video here, but be warned, it contains disturbing material.
Our December monthly meeting will take place in person on Monday 9th December, at 6pm,
in the Third Floor meeting room at Manchester Central Library.
The main focus of the meeting will be on this year’s Write for Rights campaign. Materials will be provided to write appeals and cards or letters of support relating to the 9 cases included in this year’s Write for Rights booklet. Click the link if you want to get a head start! We will have a brief discussion of the Amnesty Israel’s Genocide report (see above) with suggested actions.
In keeping with tradition, we will have mulled wine, and if you would like to bring some nibbles to share, please feel free to do so. Please could people bring their own mugs?
All are welcome, including new members.
On Sunday 8th December, at 1.30pm our anti-racism sub-group will visit the
Barbara Walker exhibition at the Whitworth gallery, Oxford Road, Manchester M15 6ER.
Via a range of media, the exhibition tackles themes such as policing and surveillance of Black life, immigration, and representation of peoples and histories in art.
All of our members are invited. No need to book. Just turn up. We hope to see you there!
***THIS EVENING*** MANCHESTER AMNESTY SILENT VIGIL for Palestine and Israel
St Peters Square, Manchester, Friday 6th December, 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
Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine and other organisations
Globalise the Intifada: Stop Gaza Genocide
Demonstration, Saturday, 7th December, 12 noon, St. Peter’s Square
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
***TOMORROW***
Saturday, 7th December, 2-5pm.
Whalley Range for Peace and Justice Group
will be holding their annual event writing cards and messages of support for people who are included in this year’s Amnesty Write for Rights campaign. There will be music, stalls and food, and the opportunity to buy Amnesty Christmas cards.
We will also have a petition to sign calling for a fairer asylum system, and a craft activity, based on the messages for Gaza that we have collected at our weekly vigil. We hope to see you there!
St. Margaret’s Church Hall, Rufford Road, M16 8AE
Rethink Rebuild Society is pleased to invite you to:
Counter-narratives against hardships among Syrian refugee youth
Researchers: Dr. Els Rommes and Nisrine Chaer
As part of the online series: Refugees, the Lived Experience
Tuesday 10th December 2024, 7pm UK time
Online Event via Zoom, please book your place here.
Good news
Ivory Coast - On November 21, 2024, the authorities announced the suspension of forced eviction operations which had been taking place since January, without consultation or compensation and often carried out with violence, and which had left tens of thousands of people homeless.
Denmark - On November 26, 2024, the Minister of Finance of the autonomous territory of Greenland announced compensation for 15 native Inuit women who were victims of a forced contraception campaign, involving 4500 people, carried out by the Danish government from the 60s to the 90s.
Myanmar - On November 27, 2024, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court requested the issuance of an arrest warrant, for crimes against humanity against the Rohingya, against Min Aung Hlaing, current head of state of the military junta and head of the armed forces at the time of the alleged facts.
Iran - On December 1, 2024, rapper Toomaj Saleh, winner of the "Grup Yorum" 2024 award from Club Tenco and Amnesty International Italy, who had been sentenced to death for his verses in favour of the "Woman Life Freedom" movement, was released after serving a year in prison.
Manchester Amnesty issue and campaign coordinators
Anti-racism –Hazel Errey hazelerrey@gmail.com
Craftivism – Lima Al-Iskalachi limazakoor@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) – Anne Walker is stepping down volunteer needed anne.walker9@ntlworld.com, sarabm6@gmail.com
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
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] (currently managed by Sara Baptista - sarabm6@gmail.com but we are looking for a new 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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