Weekly Action and News 10/03/2023
Manchester Amnesty Weekly Action and News
Please take these actions and make a difference.
We have two actions this week. The first action is about the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan, which disappeared almost overnight when the Taliban seized power in 2021. If you are a girl or woman in Afghanistan right now:
- You are banned from attending school and universities
- You are not allowed to travel over 72 km or access healthcare without a male “chaperone”
- You are banned from working for NGOs or wearing colourful clothes
- You are banned from playing sports or going to a park
Sign this Amnesty petition urging the UK government to support organisations which are defending women’s rights in Afghanistan and to provide safe passage for those who are seeking asylum.
The second action is for those of you who use Facebook or Instagram. This action from Freedom from Torture is to try to persuade the airline HiFly that it would not be in their best interests to participate in, and profit from, the UK government’s inhumane plan to fly asylum seekers to Rwanda. You may remember that a previous FFT campaign led the airline Privilege Style to withdraw from the proposed scheme, so it can work! Use these links to leave your views on HiFly’s Instagram or Facebook accounts: Hi Fly (@hifly_airline) • Instagram photos and videos
(11) Hi Fly | Lisbon | Facebook
The Manchester Amnesty Group meeting next week is on Monday 13th March at 6pm
It is joint with Freedom from Torture.
We have an external speaker,
Sergei Nikitin, former head of Amnesty International in Russia.
Venue: Manchester Central Library.
All are welcome, so please tell your friends!
We look forward to seeing you there.
Please note that, due to bank holidays, the April and May group meetings are both one day later than is usual. They are on Tuesday 11th April and Tuesday 9th May.
End Israel’s Apartheid against Palestinians
It is now a year since Amnesty launched its campaign to end Israel’s Apartheid against Palestinians, with the publication of a full report documenting ongoing human rights abuses and explaining why we are justified in using the term “Apartheid”.
On 15th May 2023 it will be the 75th anniversary of the Nakba (or catastrophe) involving the forcible displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians at the time of the creation of the state of Israel. To mark a year of campaigning and in anticipation of the Nakba anniversary, Amnesty has designated the period 15th – 27th March as Israeli Apartheid week.
In preparation for campaigning in the coming months, members could watch the film Farha about a Palestinian girl’s coming of age during the Nakba, which is available on Netflix, here, or might find it helpful to read the Amnesty campaign briefing document.
Acoustic Amnesty!
The next fabulous Acoustic Amnesty event will be on
Saturday 15th April, 2023, doors open 7pm, start 7:30
At the King’s Arms, Bloom Street, Salford
5 great acts will be playing to raise money for Amnesty and other charities
Get your tickets here:
WeGotTickets | Simple, honest ticketing | Acoustic Amnesty at the Kings Arms
Potential press freedom/Assange subgroup
If you would like to join our member Lima Al-Iskalachi in setting up a Manchester Amnesty subgroup to work on issues around press freedom and the case of Julian Assange, please contact her limakazoor@gmail.com
Human Rights in the UK
Lancine Sacko has volunteered to coordinate our work on Human Rights in the UK. If you are interested in joining a subgroup and working with him, please let him know sacko10@hotmail.co.uk
Good news
United Kingdom / Lebanon - On February 23, 2023, a court in London ruled that the British company Savaro Ltd. can be held liable for damages caused by the supply, in 2013, of a cargo of ammonium nitrate which, on August 4, 2020, exploded in the port of Beirut causing over 200 deaths and more than 6000 wounded.
Iran - On February 26, 2023, Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani was released from prison. Arrested in 2016 in the context of a repressive campaign against the Christian faithful, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison. In 2020, following a retrial, the sentence was reduced to six years.
Iran - On February 28, 2023, Ali Asdalahi, poet and secretary of the Union of Iranian Writers, was released from prison. He was arrested on November 30, 2022 by security forces who raided his home in Tehran.
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 March, 6pm, contact Kathryn Fletcher for joining link, bussk@btinternet.com
Refugees – Next meeting tbc on zoom please contact Alison Wearden, if you would like to join alison.wearden@gmail.com
Anti-racism – Next meeting in April, date tbc, please contact Hazel Errey if you would like to join hazelerrey@gmail.com
Craftivism –Next meeting Sunday 12th March, 6pm, zoom, please contact Kathryn Fletcher if you would like to join bussk@btinternet.com . Kathryn will be stepping down as craftivism coordinator so if you would like to take on this role, please let her know.
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
LGBTQ+ and Pride coordinator – Zoe Song weiyi.zoe.song@gmail.com
Europe/ Turkey, Fatih Segmen, fsegmen@yahoo.com
Human Rights in the UK, Lancine Sacko, sacko10@hotmail.co.uk
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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