Weekly Action and News 09/12/2022
Manchester Amnesty Weekly Action and News
Please do this action and make a difference
This week’s action is the final one to be taken from the 2022 Write for Rights booklet and concerns Human Rights lawyer and activist Chow Hang-tung, who is currently serving a 22-month prison sentence for encouraging people to commemorate the victims of Tiananmen Square. She also faces a further 10-year sentence for allegedly endangering national security through her actions. You can join Amnesty in demanding her release and asking that all charges against her be dropped by simply clicking the link below. You can also send her a message of support as detailed in the Write for Rights case sheet here – please read the instructions carefully.
DECEMBER GROUP MEETING – in-person 6pm, Monday December 12th.
There is no online meeting this month
This month's Manchester Amnesty Group meeting will be an in-person meeting in Manchester Central Library, St Peter's Square.
The meeting will be in the Chief Librarian's room. Take the lift or climb the stairs by the cafe to the third floor, and follow the Amnesty signs.
Please note the earlier start time of 6pm.
The meeting will start with a short introduction to Amnesty's "Protect the Protest" campaign, and an update on the Public Order bill currently going through parliament. The majority of the meeting will be taken up with writing cards and letters of support, and appeal letters, on behalf of the individuals featured in the 2022 Write for Rights booklet. Materials and instructions will be provided. There will also be a short business agenda which will be sent to you soon.
It would be great if you could bring some mince pies or other nibbles. We will supply mulled wine. Please could you also bring your own cup?
Other events
Rethink Rebuild Society is pleased to invite you to the screening of
Peace by Chocolate Hatem Ali
Followed by Q&A with the Film Director Jonathan Keijser
Wednesday, 21 December 2022 at 7pm (film will start promptly at 7.15)
Rethink Rebuild Society
First Floor, Discovery House, Manchester, SK4 5BH
After a sold out screening at Celebrating Syrian Festival 2021, Rethink Rebuild Society screens Peace by Chocolate again as a tribute to Hatem Ali (who sadly died on 29 December 2020) and as a Christmas treat for us all.
Starring Hatem Ali, Yara Sabri and Ayham Abou Ammar
Certificate: PG Running Time: 96 Minutes
Language: Arabic and English with English subtitles
Good news
Sudan - On 27 November 2022, an appeals court overturned the death sentence by stoning of Maryam Tirab, accused of adultery. The sentence, issued on June 26, was overturned because the trial had taken place in the absence of a defence lawyer.
Pakistan - On December 2, 2022, the Lahore High Court overturned five death sentences for murder issued nine years earlier, as testimonies against the convicted were found to be contradictory.
Mixed news!
Japan - On November 30, 2022, the Tokyo court declared that the ban on marriage equality is not inherently unconstitutional but also found that the absence of a legal system that allows a family is a violation of human rights.
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 – Kathryn Fletcher, bussk@btinternet.com
Anti-racism – Hazel Errey, hazelerrey@gmail.com,
Refugees – Alison Wearden, alison.wearden@gmail.com
HR in UK – Matthew Sherwood, m.j.sherwood@outlook.com
Craftivism - Kathryn Fletcher bussk@btinternet.com
Other areas of work are led by:
Crisis and Tactical Afghanistan, Myanmar, Syria, Ukraine, Yemen Rebecca Shaw, r.h.shaw.7@gmail.com
Europe/ Turkey, Fatih Segmen, fsegmen@yahoo.com
Israel's Apartheid Against Palestinians Mike Reed mikewreed101@gmail.com
Individuals at Risk (quarterly letter writing) Anne Walker anne.walker9@ntlworld.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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