Weekly Action and News 27/09/2024
Manchester Amnesty Weekly Action and News
Please do this action and make a difference
Hundreds of Eritrean nationals are at imminent risk of forcible return to Eritrea where they would face a real risk of torture, arbitrary detention and other serious human rights violations. Reports indicate that around 300 Eritreans recently detained in Türkiye without adequate access to communication or legal support have been deported to Eritrea. The authorities must immediately halt any plans to forcibly return Eritrean nationals from Türkiye and grant them access to asylum procedures, in line with international law.
Clicking the link below will take you to an Amnesty email to the Head of Migration Management in Türkiye which demands that the Eritrean nationals are not forcibly returned to Eritrea and are instead given access to fair asylum procedures, as is their right under international law.
***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 27th September, 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.
More information about how we plan to adapt to the winter months will be issued soon.
Our bi-monthly appeal-writing drop-in session **TOMORROW**
Saturday, September 28th, 2-4pm in the café area in Manchester Central Library.
All information and materials to write your appeals will be provided, or you may prefer to send an email or tweet, in which case please bring your own device. (Wifi is available). This is a great way to meet your Amnesty colleagues and enjoy spending a convivial yet productive afternoon with them. Do feel free to drop in for half an hour or stay for the whole session.
Please note that the November drop-in will be one week later than scheduled, ie 30th November, to avoid a clash with the North West Regional Conference (see below).
We still need volunteer(s) to assist with the organisation of the bi-monthly drop-in.
It is a very self-contained activity requiring about 6 days work per year.
Please contact Anne Walker -annwalker9@ntlworld.com or Sara Baptista sarabm6@gmail.com
Please can we have volunteers
to help with the organisation and running of our stall at the annual Whalley Range for Peace and Justice Write for Rights event, which will take place on Saturday 7th December?
Let Alison know if you can help alison.wearden@gmail.com
Amnesty North West Regional Conference,
10-4pm, Saturday, 23rd November
at the Cross Street Chapel, Cross Street, Manchester, M2 1NL.
Topics covered will include anti-racism, anti-death penalty, craftivism, the human rights implications of face recognition technology, and more! There will be displays about the activities of local groups and a discussion of how we can develop our work in the North West.
All welcome. Registration £10/£5, details of how to register will follow soon.
Non-Amnesty events and actions
Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine and other organisations
Saturday, 28th September, 12 noon, St Peter’s Square
Demonstration Stop Gaza genocide, stop Israel’s mass murder in Lebanon!
The following events are also being planned, so save the dates and we will confirm when we can:
Saturday 5 October, 12 noon, Piccadilly Gardens.
Demonstration to mark one year of genocide
Monday 7 October, evening, St Peters Square.
Vigil to mark one year of genocide
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.
Good news
United States of America - On September 16, 2024, a federal district court judge overturned Terry Pitchford's death sentence, issued by a Mississippi court in 2006, on the grounds that the prosecutor's office had excluded black candidates from the jury on discriminatory grounds.
Italy - On September 17, 2024, the court at Catania refused to permit the detention of a Tunisian asylum seeker, and made the judgement that Tunisia is not a safe country, despite being included in the safe-country list by the Ministry of the Interior.
UK – On September 20, 2024, the Court of Appeal in Belfast ruled that part of the Troubles Act which would deny victims their rights to truth, justice and reparations, are unlawful. AIUK is calling for the repeal of the Act and its replacement by a new law that respects victims’ rights.
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.comsu
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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