Weekly Action and News 18/11/2022
Manchester Amnesty Weekly Action
Please do this action and make a difference
20 year old Hossein Shahbazi, is at risk of imminent execution in Iran for a crime that took place when he was just 17 years old. Hossein's trial was marred by serious violations, including ‘confessions’ resulting from the possible use of torture.
After his arrest, Hossein, now aged 20, was denied access to a lawyer or his family and underwent interrogation for 11 days at a detention facility run by the Iranian police. His conviction was based on ‘confessions’ that he says were obtained during the interrogation.
His execution was scheduled for 25th December 2021, but after a huge amount of international pressure, it was postponed for a fourth time. Email the Iranian Embassy in the UK NOW calling on them to help ensure Hossein's execution is immediately halted.
Help stop the imminent execution of 20 year old Hossein (amnesty.org.uk)
Write for Rights 2022
This year’s Write for Rights campaign focuses on the right to protest. Protest is powerful, but this precious right is under attack globally from politicians, governments and regimes who fear change and accountability. The people featured have all been punished in some way for using their right to protest. You can find out more at https://www.amnesty.org.uk/write.
Central Library Drop-in ̴ Saturday 26th November
Drop into our appeal writing session at Central Library on Saturday 26th November 2-4pm. We will be featuring this year’s WfR’s cases. Find the stall near the café on the ground floor.
Manchester Cathedral Stall ̴ Wednesday 30th November
Volunteers needed to help with the stall!
We have been given permission to set up a stall in the cathedral knave from 10am -4.30pm. We will encourage visitors to the cathedral to write a solidarity message to the WfR’s cases. If you can help on the stall, if only for an hour or two, email anne.walker9@ntlworld.com NOW!
Other ways to get involved:
- Pop into the Write for Rights event at St Margaret’s church in Whalley Range on the afternoon of Saturday December 3rd, organised by Whalley Range Peace and Justice group.
- Come along to our in-person December Group Meeting on Monday 12th December, 6 – 7.30pm, at Central Library and write your messages in good company with a mince pie in hand.
- Organise a Write for Rights session at work, church, at home with friends etc. We can provide materials, help, and support.
If you can’t make any of these events or organise one yourself, please still take part at home by writing greetings cards with messages of support and appeal letters to the authorities.
Israel’s Apartheid against Palestinians – campaigning ideas welcome.
Our member Mike Reed has been delivering his talk about Amnesty’s report on Israel’s Apartheid against Palestinians to various organisations in the North West. He is keen to hear from members whose mosques, churches, peace groups, campaign groups, trade unions, political parties, student bodies etc. etc. would like to hear the talk. Also, any ideas for generating media interest in the campaign, both locally and nationally, would be gratefully received. How can we spread the simple message “End Israeli Apartheid”? Please email Mike with suggestions mikewreed101@gmail.com
Other events
How to stop small boats crossing the channel – in a humane way - Care4Calais Safe Passage
Members may wish to watch and share this excellent video about refugees by Care4Calais.
The Amos Trust’s Christmas Tour “We are not numbers” (poetry, music, special guests)
Friday 25th November, 7pm, St Margaret’s Church, Rufford Road, M16 8AE at 7pm.
Proceeds from the evening will go towards Amos Trust’s Christmas appeal supporting their work in Gaza. Refreshments will be served and Christmas merchandise sold after the event.
For more details and to book your place check out the Trust’s Christmas Tour page and for details of their Christmas appeal and to make a donation, please visit amostrust.org/christmas-appeal.
Good news
UK – On 11 November, 2022, the Metropolitan Police agreed to overhaul its controversial Gangs Violence Matrix database of suspected gang members, admitting that it needs “wholesale change”, after a landmark legal case brought by Liberty forced them to concede that the operation of the Matrix breached people’s human rights and was unlawful.
Romania - On 7 November 2022, thanks in part to urgent action by Amnesty International, Amina Gerikhanova, a Chechen woman who fled Ukraine in March after the invasion of Russia, and who had been the subject of an extradition request by the Russian authorities, was granted political asylum in Romania.
Central African Republic - On 31 October 2022, the Special Court composed of national and international judges sentenced Sallet Adom, Ousman Yaouba and Tahir Mahamat, three former fighters of the armed group 3R that in May 2019 had attacked a village in the northwest of the country killing 46 people, to sentences of 20 years to life imprisonment for crimes against humanity.
Ghana - On 5 November 2022, during a meeting with a delegation of Amnesty International, President Nana Akufo-Addo said that after the state has consciously decided not to carry out more death sentences, the logical thing should be done, namely abolish the death penalty from the law, adding that "it should have been done long ago".
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.
- Downloads
- Pen is #20 A5 flyer.pdf
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