Weekly Action and News 17/02/2023
Manchester Amnesty Weekly Action and News
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Honduras: Demand action over the killing of two water defenders
Aly Magdaleno Domínguez Ramos and Jairo Bonilla Ayala were members of the popular resistance of Guapinol (in the department of Colon, northern Honduras), a group who have been defending the Carlos Escaleras National Park and opposing an iron ore mine. They were found dead on 7 January 2023. According to their relatives, they were intercepted by armed assailants, shot, and killed on the spot. Amnesty are demanding that the Honduran authorities ensure a prompt, thorough and impartial investigation into the killings, and take immediate steps to provide full and appropriate protection for other members of the group.
****TONIGHT****
Our Acoustic Amnesty event,
in conjunction with our friends from
Women Asylum Seekers Together (WAST)
is tonight!
Friday 17th February, 7pm,
at Sacred Trinity Church in Salford
With 6 choirs, 3 poets, a singer and a band.
All for £10.
It will be great, please bring lots of friends!
Tickets are available here: WeGotTickets | Simple, honest ticketing | Acoustic Amnesty - choirs and friends
BECOME A TRUSTEE WITH OMEGA
Omega Research Foundation is looking for keen and capable individuals to become trustees.
Omega monitors the trade, manufacture and use of military, security and police equipment to help protect human rights and prevent torture.
Previous trustee experience is not required. The role requires only a small time commitment but makes a big contribution.
Further information from Fiona: info@omegaresearchfoundation.org
See our website https://omegaresearchfoundation.org and our trustee information pack here: https://omegaresearchfoundation.org/about/vacancies
Or contact MAI member, Mike Reed, who is Chair of Omega Trustees: 07766 083765
Forthcoming events
An invitation from Manchester Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Stories from Gaza – a talk by Haneen Jadalla.
Thursday 23rd February at Friends Meeting House, 6 Mount Street, Manchester, M2 5NS.
Haneen has been an English teacher in Gaza since 2013, with special expertise in children’s drama. She encourages her students to write and perform plays so that their voices may be heard in the wider world. She will speak about the challenges of her job and about the children's success with The Hands Up Project.
Open to all. Register for your free place on Eventbrite. https://bit.ly/StoriesFromGaza. Donations welcome.
The Amnesty Northern Regional Conference, 11th March 2023, 10.00-15.30, ONLINE
is now open for registration at the link below:
Amnesty UK's North Conference Live: Saturday March 11th 2023 Tickets | TryBooking United Kingdom
Talks, discussions and workshops on topics such as Amnesty UK's Anti-Racism Campaigns including the Government's Anti-Terrorism Programme, Protecting Freedom of Speech and Amnesty UK's work to End Israel's Apartheid.
All individual and group members from the North of England are welcome to attend.
FREE Amnesty Webinar, Tuesday 14 March 2023, 6-8 pm,
with Becca Strober, Education Director at Breaking the Silence
“Breaking the Silence” is a group of veteran soldiers from the Israeli army who wish to expose the reality of life in the Occupied Territories. Through their work, they aim to bring an end to the occupation. There will be the opportunity for questions from participants.
Sign up for the webinar here: Breaking the Silence: the reality of life in the Occupied Territories Tickets, Tue 14 Mar 2023 at 18:00 | Eventbrite
Good news
Zambia - Six weeks after the abolition of capital punishment, on February 8, 2023, President Hakainde Hichilema closed the death row of the state by commuting the death sentences of 11 women and 379 men to life imprisonment.
We have received news of the release of 12 prisoners of conscience in Iran. Most had been arrested for their support for the recent protests against the government but some had been in prison for longer. Charges included “insulting Islam,” “crimes against national security,” and “spreading propaganda.” There is only space to mention them briefly below. While we welcome the release of these 12 people, we remember the many others who are still in prison on dubious charges, often subject to torture, and who are being denied their human rights.
Raha Lonj tattoo artist arrested 25 Sept 2022 released 05 Feb 2023
Armita Abbasi HR activist arrested 10 Oct 2022 released 07 Feb 2023
Hasti Amiri HR activist sentenced in 2022 released 08 Feb 2023
Asal Mohammadi HR activist sentenced in 2022 released 08 Feb 2023
Farangis Mazloum HR activist sentenced in 2022 released 08 Feb 2023
Ehsan Pirbonash cartoonist arrested October 2022 released 09 Feb 2023
Niloufar Shakeri HR activist arrested 10 Oct 2022 released 09 Feb 2023
Mahtab Ansarian student arrested 14 Nov 2022 released 10 Feb 2023
Noushin Jafari photojournalist arrested 16 Feb 2021 released 11 Feb 2023
Fariba Adelkhah researcher arrested June 2021 released 11 Feb 2023
Elmira Rahaman cellist arrested Jan 16 2023 released 12 Feb 2023
Khaled Pirzadeh athlete, coach imprisoned June 2019 released 12 Feb 2023
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 March, 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 . 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
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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