Weekly Action and News 19/01/2024
Manchester Amnesty Weekly Action and News
Please do this action and make a difference
From 22nd-25th January, and then again from 25th-27th February, Twickenham Stadium, owned by the Rugby Football Union (RFU), is hosting two arms fairs, relating to armoured vehicles and military helicopters. The companies represented at these events produce weapons and military technology currently being used by Israel in its ongoing devastating assault on Palestinians. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are among the organisations which have called for a halt to the supply of arms to Israel. Palestine Solidarity Campaign have drafted a letter/email which you can send to the Rugby Football Union urging them to cancel these events and withdraw their support. You can send the letter/email by clicking the link below, or you can modify it to include your own message.
***THIS EVENING*** MANCHESTER AMNESTY SILENT VIGIL
Silent vigil calling for a permanent ceasefire
and the protection of all civilians in Palestine and Israel
St Peters Square, Manchester, Friday 19th January, 5pm to 6pm
Meet in front of Central Library
Please dress warmly, wear black/dark colours
and please do not bring placards, banners or flags.
We will provide placards with Amnesty’s messages and tealights. Feel free to bring your friends.
We will continue with the weekly vigils until further notice.
FREE - PUBLIC MEETING FRIDAY JANUARY 26th 7.30PM
CHORLTON CENTRAL CHURCH, Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton, M21 8BF
ISRAEL’S APARTHEID AGAINST THE PALESTINIANS
Presentation of Amnesty International Report by Mike Reed of Manchester Amnesty International
With panel speakers and discussion
Our next appeal-writing drop-in session will take place on
Saturday 27th January, 2-4pm, in the café area at Manchester Central Library.
A chance to share a coffee with your Amnesty colleagues while writing appeals on a range of cases. All materials provided, and wifi is available if you prefer to email or tweet. If there are any cases that you would like her to include, please contact Anne.Walker9@ntlworld.com copying in alison.wearden@gmail.com
Julian Assange has been in Belmarsh Prison under threat of extradition to the USA for 5 years.
His final appeal against extradition has now been scheduled to be heard on 20/21 February.
On Tuesday 20th February, from 12.00-2.00pm,
Manchester Amnesty will hold an event in St Peter’s Square in support of Assange,
with artwork, banners, speakers, poets, music.
Lima is still accepting contributions for her fabulous artwork to accompany the event.
Please contact Lima Al-Iskalachi if you can participate in the event in any way, or if you know a journalist who will cover it. limazakoor@gmail.com. We want to create a big splash!
Read more about the worldwide campaign to prevent Assange’s extradition here
We need volunteers to help on our stall highlighting human rights abuses in the UAE,
at the People’s History Museum, on Wednesday 21st February, 2024
The stall will offer art-blocking on pre-loved teeshirts to raise awareness about Ahmed Mansoor, and visitors will have the opportunity to sign a letter to the President of the UAE
Contact Kathryn Fletcher on bussk@btinternet.com to volunteer for one of these slots:
10:20-12:30; 12:30 – 2.00; 2.00- 3.30pm. Thank you!
Acoustic Amnesty fundraiser
Friday Feb 2 at Sacred Trinity church on Chapel Street, Salford. Door 7pm, start 7.30pm.
Raising ££ for Amnesty and Medical Aid for Palestinians.
Bill Holmes (vocal) and Tim Mottershead (piano) will give their take on the entirety of Marvin Gaye's classic album What's Goin' On (1971), followed by an eclectic mix of material straddling multiple genres and including songs by Bill Withers, David Bowie, and the Beatles.
Tickets (all proceeds to charity) available for £10 in advance here - https://www.wegottickets.com/event/605048 [wegottickets.com]
On Valentine’s day 14th February, Together with Refugees are launching a campaign
“Fair Begins Here” to encourage people to send messages of solidarity to refugees and to demand a new and different approach from political leaders.
We are looking to join with another group or organisation to see if there is an action we can take, possibly using our orange hearts. If you want to get involved or have any ideas for actions or collaborations, please let alison.wearden@gmail.com know.
Non-Amnesty events
Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine and other organisations.
ALL OUT FOR GAZA
Saturday, 20th January, St Peter’s Square, Manchester, 12 noon
Please support this demonstration, but please do not take Amnesty banners.
Rethink Rebuild Society is pleased to invite you to:
a screening of THE TOWER Followed by Q&A with the Film Director Mats Grorud
A young Palestinian girl in a refugee camp learns about her family's history through stories told by three previous generations
Friday, 26 January at 7pm. Screening will start a 7.15 prompt
Rethink Rebuild Society,First Floor, Discovery House, Manchester, SK4 5BH
and
An interactive workshop Mental Health Support for Refugees & Asylum Seekers
In partnership with Yaran North West. Wednesday, 07 February 7-9pm,
Mental Health Support for Refugees and Asylum Seekers with Yaran North West Tickets, Wed 7 Feb 2024 at 19:00 | Eventbrite
Good news
Indonesia - On January 8, 2024, a court acquitted human rights defenders Haris Azhar and Fatia Maulidyanti of a defamation charge brought by the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Investment. Azhar and Maulidyanti had publicly speculated that, behind a series of military operations in the province of Papua, there were interests related to the development and protection of gold mines.
Iran - On January 9, 2024, Nahid Taghavi, who also holds a German passport, was released from prison and placed under house arrest with the obligation to wear an electronic bracelet. She was arrested in October 2020 and sentenced in August 2021 to 10 years and eight months in prison on unfounded charges of "directing an illegal group" and "propaganda against the regime".
Iran - On January 14, 2014, Niloufar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi, the two journalists sentenced in October 2023 to seven and six years for investigating and providing details of the killing of Mahsa Jina Amini after she was arrested for not wearing her headscarf correctly, were released on bail pending the appeal process.
Malaysia - On January 11, 2024, an appeals court commuted to 10 years in prison the death sentence of a 38-year-old woman, known as C. Smochit, who had been found guilty of the premeditated murder of her boyfriend. The charge was changed to manslaughter.
Italy - On 11 January 2024, referring the case back to the Court of Appeal for a new trial, the Court of Cassation annulled the sentence passed on a group of police officers. In May 2019, the officers had been convicted of beating a journalist with truncheons while he was covering a demonstration, and fined a mere €2,582.
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 Lancine Sacko - sacko10@hotmail.co.uk
Individuals at Risk (bi-monthly appeal writing drop ins) - Anne Walker anne.walker9@ntlworld.com
Manchester Central Library café, 2-4pm 4th Saturdays January, March, May, July, September, November
Israel's Apartheid Against Palestinians - Mike Reed mikewreed101@gmail.com
LGBTQ+ and Pride coordinator – Zoe Song weiyi.zoe.song@gmail.com
Press freedom and Julian Assange – Lima Al-Iskalachi limazakoor@gmail.com
Refugees – Alison Wearden alison.wearden@gmail.com
UAE – Kathryn Fletcher bussk@btinternet.com
Our website Manchester | Amnesty International UK
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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