Manchester Amnesty Weekly Action and News 

Please do this action and make a difference 

As many of you will know, we have been working on the case of Dr Mohamed Al-Roken for several years now. Dr Al-Roken was imprisoned in 2012 solely for his peaceful work defending human rights. He should have been released from prison this July, but is still detained. Our weekly action this week, which we will also do as a group action tomorrow at our bi-monthly appeal writing drop in session (see below), is to send a message to the UAE embassy asking for Dr Al-Roken’s release. To draw attention to our messages, we are sending them on postcards made in the shape of a key. Full instructions for making the key, suggested messages for you to write, and the embassy address are on the pdf which is attached to this weekly action email. Please post your key as soon as possible after 26^th September, and definitely by 10^th October.

TAKE ACTION

Appeal Writing Drop-In

Saturday 24^th September 2-4pm

Central Library

 Our regular appeal writing get-together will take place near the café in Central Library tomorrow. Case details will be provided with pens and paper for letters.

Bring along a device for emails/tweets.

In addition to current urgent action cases, we will be doing this week’s action as a group activity - making key postcards to send to the UAE embassy calling for the release of prisoner of conscience, Mohammed al-Roken.

Come along when you can and get stuck in! 

We are proud to present the

#amnestymanc Human Rights Walk

8^th October, 1.15 for 1.30pm.

Please advertise far and wide!

Led by our member Steve Roman, the walk is fully accessible and will last about 2 hours.

Don’t forget to buy yourself a ticket too, at the link belowwhere you can also read more about the walk.

http://wegottickets.com/event/557534

We have sent a pdf copy of the flyer to our mailing list.

Please sign up and we look forward to seeing you there.

Asylum seekers and mental health

The Syrian refugee support group Rethink Rebuild Society are organising a book launch and panel discussion on 'seeking asylum and mental health’. The event, on Thursday 6 October at 6.30pm at Discovery House in Levenshulme, is for anyone with an interest in the wellbeing and welfare of asylum seekers and refugees. The event is free but donations would be welcome. The link to register and share is: https://seeking-asylum-mental-health.eventbrite.co.uk or see the

Facebook event page.

On Saturday 15^th October, 3-8pm, Old Abbey Tap House, M15 6SY

An afternoon/evening of music, poetry, DJs, stalls, dance and food, to highlight the Wikileaks Revolution/Julian Assange campaign.

Please see this link for more information.

There will be an Amnesty stall, organised by Lima Al-iskalachi.

Please email her if you are able to help her on the day limazakoor@gmail.com.

Are you a member of another group or organisation with an interest in human rights?

Would your group like to hear a talk about Amnesty’s major new report:

Israel’s Apartheid Against Palestinians, and the ongoing campaign?

In February 2022, Amnesty International published a major new report: Israel’s Apartheid Against Palestinians. We believe that the publication of this report by Amnesty represents a step change in the efforts to secure the human rights and dignity of the Palestinian people. One of our members, Mike Reed, is offering an in-person talk or online presentation about the report. In it he explains how Amnesty reached their conclusions after 4 years of intensive research and legal investigations. He also talks about the ongoing Amnesty campaign. The session usually lasts about an hour (30 mins talk, 30 mins discussion) but timings are flexible. Mike is an experienced trainer and activist who has been a member of Amnesty for 50 years.

If you are a member of a group or organisation who would like to hear the talk, please ask your chair or secretary to contact Mike by email. mikewreed101@gmail.com

Good news

Sudan - On 9 September 2022, the Attorney General of the State of Darfur quashed the proceedings against Badar Haroun Abdul-Jabbar, Mohamed Haroun Abdul-Jabbar, Tariq Aref Abdallah and Mortada Ismael Yousef, who were arrested on 24 June on charges of apostasy, or conversion to Christianity.

Egypt - On 15 September 2022, Haitham Mohamedeen, an activist, trade unionist and lawyer, was released. In prison from 18 May to 10 October 2018, he was arrested again on 13 May 2019 for "incitement to protest" against the increase in the price of subway tickets and "belonging to an outlaw group".

Egypt - On 14 September 2022 "Al Jazeera" journalist Ahmed al-Najdi was released. He was arrested in August 2020 for "belonging to an outlaw group" and "spreading false news".

European Union / Hungary - On 15 September 2022, the European Parliament approved a report calling Hungary a "systemic threat" to the founding values of the European Union and calling on the Commission and the Council to take further action.

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 

alison.wearden@gmail.com 

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.