Sutton Amnesty AGM - 3 June 2024 Meeting Highlights

Dr Al-Roken and the UAE 84

Our group has been involved in meetings with other Amnesty groups campaigning on behalf of prisoners in the UAE. Our Chair was able to give feedback on the UAE 84 trial involving Dr Mohammed al-Roken. This mass trial started during COP 28 and much of the information had been obtained from the Emirates Detainees Advocacy Centre (EDAC) whose Executive Director, Hamid Alshamsi, had spoken to Sutton Amnesty in 2022. Dr al-Roken (a lawyer) had been active in defending himself and others and in particular arguing the case was one of 'double jeopardy' as the allegations were repeats of earlier charges for which they had already served sentences. One defendant had said the verdict, scheduled for publication on 10 July, was 'pre-determined'. Other defendants were suffering from declining health.

Community Outreach

Anne reported back on her summary of the Community Mapping suggestions made by Group members at our May meeting. The session had already paid dividends with Banstead Village Fair identified as an event at which we could have a stall and Anne had secured a pitch. It was agreed that work on schools could be usefully prioritised and that following our attendance at Sutton High, Anne and Mark would devise effective ways of approaching other schools. Sutton Amnesty posters were circulated for us to place (with permission from noticeboard holders!) in coffee bars/other public places.

Amnesty Futures

Our Chair reported on developments with Amnesty Futures and the forthcoming AIUK AGM. Seven of the eight Amnesty Futures  resolutions had been supported by the Board with the exception being the 'Requirement to consult with the membership before the proposed sale of the Human Rights Action Centre'. Further, possible emergency resolutions were also discussed including reverting to the 2 day AGM format that had existed previously and the retention of Individual cases in the Amnesty magazine. In addition to this there was discussion of a proposal to remove the supermajority required for certain Main Board resolutions to be passed.

Good news

During the course of June we learned that the Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi, has had his death sentence overturned by the country's Supreme Court. This is excellent news but he remains in prison and Amnesty Sutton will continue to campaign on his behalf.

Our group also learned that Rita Karatarsova on whose behalf we wrote as part of December's 'Write for Rights' has been acquitted. Her case has highlighted ongoing issues with fair trials and the suppression of the right to freedom of expression in Kyrgyzstan. Her acquittal and those of her co-defendants is an important victory for justice and human rights. The charges against them were politically motivated and she should not have been brought to trial.

Sutton AGM

Sutton Amnesty held it’s annual AGM. The Chair, Secretary and Treasurer were all re-appointed, and were thanked for their good work over the past year. Our Chair thanked everyone in the group for their efforts in campaigning against human rights abuses around the world.