Manchester Amnesty Weekly Action and News

Please do this action and make a difference

On 9 July, activists Oumar Sylla (also known as Fonike Mengue) and Mamadou Billo Bah were arrested by defence and security forces in Conakry, Guinea’s capital, after Sylla called on people to protest against the government crackdown on media and the high cost of living. Since then, they have been disappeared. Amnesty are calling on the Guinean authorities to immediately disclose information regarding the whereabouts of the two activists, to ensure their wellbeing and to bring about their immediate and unconditional release. You can send an email to the Prime Minister of Guinea supporting these demands by clicking the link below.

TAKE ACTION

Amnesty North West Regional Conference

Action for Human Rights

10-4pm, Saturday, 23^rd November. Cross Street Chapel, Manchester M2 1NL

All welcome. Please register NOW so we know how many to cater for! Register here

Action for Human Rights (wegottickets.com)

On Sunday 8^th 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 15th November, 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.

If you would like to attend AIUK’s

Amplify Human Rights Festival, (see here), 7^th December, Woolwich Works, London, SE18 6HD, we may be able to help with the cost. Please email Alison or Hazel if you are interested.

Non-Amnesty events and actions

TOMORROW

Rethink Rebuild Society is pleased to invite you to a screening of
Hijabi (2024), by Samir Mehanovic,

a film about 5 British women who wear the hijab, and their experiences of Islamophobia.

The film (PG, in English) will be followed by a panel discussion.

Saturday 16th November 2024, 7pm-9:30pm. Rethink Rebuild Society, SK4 5BH

More information and reserve your place here.

Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine and other organisations

Stop Gaza genocide: No climate justice without Palestinian liberation

Demonstration, Saturday 16^th November, St Peter’s Square, 12 noon

Whalley Range Peace and Justice Stand with Palestine

Each Wednesday 4.30-5.30 at Brooks Bar M16 7RN

Levenshulme Peace and Justice for Palestine All out for Palestine

Each Thursday, 5-6pm, Levenshulme Village Green, junction of Stockport Rd & Chapel St

Strings of Solidarity: An Evening of Folk Music for FALASTIN (Palestine)

TOMORROW Saturday, 16^th November, Doors open 7pm | Programme: 7.30pm – 10pm

Friezland Church Hall, Church Road, Greenfield, OL3 7LQ

£12/£20 In aid of Saddleworth Palestine Women’s Scholarship Fund. More information here.

The Amos Trust Christmas Tour is in Manchester on 3^rd December – Ascension Church Hulme

An evening of music, film, poetry and conversation – all proceeds to support work in Gaza.

More details and book your place here

Saturday, 7^th 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. Hope to see you there!

St. Margaret’s Church Hall, Rufford Road, M16 8AE

Good news

Iran - On November 4, 2024, Maryam Merhabi, sister of a human rights activist, was released from prison. She had previously been sentenced to one year in prison for "propaganda against the regime" and five years for "incitement to war and murder", but on appeal the sentence was reduced to four and a half years and then suspended.

Nigeria - On November 5, 2024, 119 people, including 29 minors, who had taken part in a protest in the capital Abuja against the high cost of living on August 1, were acquitted and released. They had been accused of treason and incitement to a military coup, a crime which carries the death penalty.

United States of America - On November 6, 2024, voters in seven states (Nevada, Arizona, Missouri, Montana, Colorado, Maryland and New York) approved referendums to maintain or expand the right to abortion.

United States of America - On November 7, 2024, the Texas State Court of Appeals overturned the death sentence and ordered a retrial of Randy Halprin, who had been found guilty in 2023 of murdering a police officer. The court found that the judge in the original trial had manifested antisemitic prejudice against the defendant.

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 

alison.wearden@gmail.com 

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.