Weekly Action and News 17/02/2023
Manchester Amnesty Weekly Actions and News
Please do these actions and make a difference
Action 1. Israel-Palestine.
If you want to learn a little more about Israel-Palestine watch this excellent and moving BBC tv programme, The Holy Land and us: our untold stories. Part 1 is on i-player now, part two airs next Tuesday 9pm on BBC2, and then on i-player.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m001k3wj/the-holy-land-and-us-our-untold-stories
Part 1 reveals some of the shocking history including a little on the terrible treatment of Jewish refugees who survived the Nazi death camps and the suffering of Palestinians in the early years of the new Israeli state. Brave programme making by the BBC and a 5 star review in the Guardian. Please then pass the recommendation on to others.
Action 2. Ahmed Mansoor
On Monday, 20th March, please tweet the photo below, and this text:
It is six years today since the arrest of @Ahmed_Mansoor. He remains in prison solely for his peaceful work to improve human rights in the #UAE. We call on the UAE authorities to #FreeAhmed
Next two group meetings
Please note that, due to bank holidays, the April and May online group meetings are both one day later than usual. They are on Tuesday 11th April and Tuesday 9th May.
Our next letter-writing drop in for individuals at risk will be on
Saturday 25th March from 2-4pm at Manchester Central Library (behind the café area).
Information and materials for letter writing provided. Bring a device if you prefer to email or tweet.
It’s always a great afternoon, so do drop in. More details in next week’s newsletter.
We are appealing for volunteers to attend an Iftar (breaking of the fast) at an Oldham mosque at 19:47 on 1st April, as part of a series of Iftar events organised by Nabila Hanson, AIUK country coordinator for China, to raise awareness of human rights abuses against the Uyghurs.
There will be a speaker from AIUK but we need a member or members to represent Manchester Amnesty and answer questions about the group, and to collect signatures for a petition.
Forthcoming events
Sponsored by #DefundClimateChaos
in collaboration with Stop EACOP UK and Global Justice Now Youth Manchester
You are invited to a showing of the documentary EACOP: a crude reality
The planned East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) will run through Uganda and Tanzania, destroying communities and fuelling the climate chaos that is already affecting East Africa.
Tuesday, March 21, 6:30 PM, Friends Meeting House, 6 Mount St, Manchester , M2 5NS GB
Book here: https://actionnetwork.org/events/stop-eacop-documentary-eacop-a-crude-reality-3
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
A date for your diary
To celebrate his 75th birthday,
and in conjunction with the Saddleworth Palestinian Women’s scholarship fund (SPWSF)
our member Steve Roman invites you to a magnificent evening of entertainment entitled
“Paul Robeson – the giant in a nutshell”
at the Birch Community Centre in Rusholme on Saturday 17th June at 7:30pm.
Featuring Tayu Aluko, the Obsidian Rock Band, and with a global buffet supper and pay bar.
Proceeds to the SPWSF. More information and get your tickets here:
https://www.wegottickets.com/sct/Gkfp3kRzRW
Good news
Azerbaijan - On 11 March 2023, the government signed the Protocol of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms prohibiting the death penalty in all circumstances.
Japan - On March 13, 2023, the Tokyo High Court ruled that Hakamada Iwao, on death row for 45 years, most of which he spent in solitary confinement, is entitled to a retrial. The court ruled that when Hakamada was sentenced to death in 1968, he was deprived of the right to a fair trial.
United States of America - On March 9, 2023, Ghassan al-Sharbi, a 49-year-old Saudi national, was released from the US Guantánamo Detention Centre after 21 years. Al-Sharbi was arrested in Pakistan in 2002 on charges of helping to design car bomb detonators, but by 2008 the charges had been dropped. His release was authorised in February 2022 but it took 13 months for it to happen.
Georgia - After two days of massive, largely peaceful protests, on March 9, 2023, parliament announced the withdrawal of the proposed law requiring registration of "foreign agents" which Amnesty had said would be incompatible with international human rights law.
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.
Free Press, Free Assange – new subgroup – first meeting tbc – please contact Lima Al-Iskalachi limakazoor@gmail.com if you would like to join
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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