Weekly Action and News 23/08/2024
Manchester Amnesty Weekly Action and News
Please do this action and make a difference
For decades, Israel has arbitrarily arrested and detained hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from all walks of life as a means of repression and control. Since last October, the volume of arrests has increased. There are currently around 9,500 Palestinians, including hundreds of children and women, who are being held hostage by Israel in its prison system. A significant number of these are under administrative detention, meaning that they are imprisoned without charge or trial.
There are countless testimonials of detainees kept in appalling conditions and subjected to humiliation, torture and sexual violence. The UN has described this unspeakable abuse as a crime against humanity.
Clicking on the link below will take you to a letter by Palestine Solidarity Campaign which you can sign. Addressed to the Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, it demands that the UK stops sending arms to Israel and brings every possible pressure to bear on the Israeli government to stop this torture of Palestinians. Please be warned that material at the link below contains information about sexual violence and torture.
Due to holidays, there will be no weekly action on Friday, 30th August. The vigil at 5pm that evening WILL take place as usual. The next weekly action and newsletter will be published on Friday 6th September.
***THIS EVENING*** MANCHESTER AMNESTY SILENT VIGIL
Silent vigil calling for a permanent ceasefire
and the protection of all civilians in Palestine and Israel will take place as planned.
St Peters Square, Manchester, Friday 23rd August, 5-6pm.
Please do not bring placards, banners or flags.
We will provide placards with Amnesty’s messages. Feel free to bring your friends.
We will continue with the weekly vigils until further notice.
We plan to rearrange the fundraising walk that we had to cancel recently for a date in October (exact date to be confirmed). We are looking for a person to take on the role of publicising the walk. Please let alison.wearden@gmail.com know if you are interested.
The next meeting of the Scrap Prevent working group will take place on Thursday 12th September at 7pm. Please let alison.wearden@gmail.com know if you are interested in joining the group.
Non-Amnesty events
Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine and other organisations
Whalley Range Peace and Justice Stand with Palestine
Each Wednesday 4.30-5.30 at Brooks Bar M16 7RN
Please support these events but please do not take Amnesty banners.
Gaza Nights Cabaret - Manchester Edition
Niamos Radical Arts Centre, Warwick Street, Hulme, Manchester M15 5EU
Friday 30 August 2024 18:30 Doors, 19:30 Showtime
An evening of music, theatre, comedy, poetry and more from a team of Palestinians and supporters of Palestine. In aid of Amplify Gaza Stories who are working with people and local NGOs inside Gaza, to support community resilience through food, psychosocial support and other work. Ticket available here.
Film Showing: “Shanshula” directed by Musheir El Farra from Gaza.
A 33 minute film documenting the struggles of the Gazan fishing community.
Wednesday 18th September, 6:30 for 7pm, Cross Street Chapel, Cross Street, M2 1NL.
Good news
UK – On 9 August, the government announced that it was dropping its case against Trudi Warner, who had been charged with contempt of court for holding a placard reminding jurors of their right to acquit in accordance with their conscience.
Iran - On August 14, 2024, rapper Toomaj Salehi, singer of the protests of the "Woman Life Freedom" movement, was acquitted of the crime of "corruption on earth", for which he had previously been sentenced to death. Two other charges remain standing against him. Amnesty International continues to call for his complete acquittal and release.
Burundi - On August 14, 2024, journalist Floriane Irangabiye received a presidential pardon after serving two years in prison. She had previously been sentenced to ten years for "endangering the integrity of the national territory" during a radio debate.
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 Iona Bruce – ifbruce99@gmail.com
Individuals at Risk (bi-monthly appeal writing drop ins and Write for Rights in Nov/Dec) – Anne Walker anne.walker9@ntlworld.com
Israel's Apartheid Against Palestinians - Mike Reed mikewreed101@gmail.com
LGBTQ+ and Pride – Zoe Song weiyi.zoe.song@gmail.com
Press freedom and Julian Assange – Lima Al-iskalachi limazakoor@gmail.com & Danny Jones dannyj644@gmail.com
Refugees Whatsapp group – Alison Wearden alison.wearden@gmail.com
UAE – Kathryn Fletcher bussk@btinternet.com
Our website Manchester | Amnesty International UK [amnesty.org.uk] (managed by Alison Wearden)
X/Twitter @amnestymanc [twitter.com] (managed by Steve Lindsay – stevenjameslindsay@gmail.com)
Facebook Manchester Amnesty Group [facebook.com]
Instagram @amnestymanchester [instagram.com] (managed by Sara Baptista - sarabm6@gmail.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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