Weekly Action and News 22/12/2023
Manchester Amnesty Weekly Action and News
Please do this action and make a difference
If you have not already signed the most recent Amnesty petition calling on the Prime Minister to back an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, please do so now, by clicking the action link below. Note this is a different petition from others that were included as weekly actions over the past two months. You may also have emailed your MP (possibly several times), but as we approach Christmas, we are asking you to email again. This can be a brief message, simply referring to the catastrophe that is taking place in Gaza and asking your MP to keep up pressure by any means available to them for an immediate and lasting ceasefire. Read Amnesty’s latest briefing here. Find your MP here. Don’t forget to include your name, address and postcode.
***THIS EVENING*** MANCHESTER AMNESTY SILENT VIGIL
Tenth Silent vigil calling for a permanent ceasefire
and the protection of all civilians in Palestine and Israel
St Peters Square, Manchester, Friday 22nd December, 5pm to 6pm
Meet in front of Central Library (next to Father Christmas)
Look for the Manchester Amnesty yellow banner.
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.
Please note that this is the last vigil for 2023. No Amnesty vigil on 29th December.
Crisis in Israel and Palestine
Members are invited to a special online meeting on Thursday, 11th January at 7pm to review our vigils for Palestine/Israel and the other actions we have taken, and to plan for further activities. All are welcome. Please let alison.wearden@gmail.com know if you plan to attend the meeting, or if can’t attend but want your email to be included in the group list.
Write for Rights 2023
Members will no doubt be pleased to hear that, in addition to the letters of support and appeals written at our various Write for Rights stalls (reported last week), the Whalley Range Peace and Justice event on 2nd December produced a grand total of 672 cards/message of support to people experiencing human rights abuses and 587 appeal letters. A magnificent effort!
Save the date Wednesday, February 21st, 2024
We will be having a craft stall at the People’s History Museum.
Please let Kathryn Fletcher know if you can help. bussk@btinternet.com
Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine and other organisations will be demonstrating this Saturday 23rd December, 1:00pm, at BBC HQ, MediaCity UK, Salford, M50 2QH
Please support this event, but as always, we ask you to do this as a private person and not to take Amnesty banners or logos. Thankyou.
Can I take this opportunity to thank people for their support for the weekly newsletter and to wish everyone all the best for the holiday period and the New Year.
There will not be a newsletter next week, 29th December.
Good news
Nigeria - On December 9, 2023, a Christian woman, Rhoda Jatau, was released on bail after spending a year and a half in a prison in Bauchi State. She had been arrested in May 2022 for a post referring to the killing of a Christian student from Sokoto, which was deemed blasphemous.
Zimbabwe - On December 11, 2023, the High Court acquitted Jacob Ngarivhume, leader of the opposition party "Transform Zimbabwe", of the charge of inciting violence through social media. He had been arrested after a national protest against corruption on 31 July 2020, and sentenced to 48 months in prison in April 2023.
Japan - On December 12, 2023, a court in Fukushima convicted three former soldiers of sexually assaulting one of their colleagues, Rina Gonoi, whose story became known in 2022 after she published a YouTube video detailing what had happened.
Albania - On December 13, 2023, the Constitutional Court suspended the agreement with Italy on the opening of two centers for migrants, following two appeals filed by political parties who consider the agreement unconstitutional and contrary to international conventions.
United States – On December 20, 2023, an Oklahoma judge passed a ruling declaring Glynn Simmons, who had spent 48 years in prison after being convicted of murder, innocent of the crime. Originally sentenced to death, Mr Simmons’ sentence had been commuted to life imprisonment. He was released in July 2023 when it was found that his conviction was unsafe, and has now been completely exonerated. The BBC reported that this was the longest known wrongful sentence in US history.
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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