Fortnightly Action and News, 12/12/2025
Manchester Amnesty Fortnightly Action and News
Please do this action and make a difference
Eight prisoners associated with Palestine Action are currently on hunger strike in protest over the repressive and inhumane conditions of their detention in British prisons. Their health is deteriorating quickly, so they need urgent intervention.
These prisoners are facing trial for allegedly taking action to prevent arms manufacturers from shipping weapons to Israel, used in its genocide against the Palestinian people. It is the perpetrators of genocide, and the British politicians and companies arming them, who should be facing trial.
John McDonnell MP has tabled Early Day Motion (EDM) 2386 calling on the Secretary of State for Justice to intervene and make sure the prisoners' conditions are improved and their rights are upheld. Click the link below and follow a few simple steps to ask your MP to support the EDM and to speak in parliament in support of the prisoners.
The action on 28/11 was the case of Sonia Dahmani from this year’s Write for Rights booklet. Amnesty International have announced that Sonia was released from prison in Tunisia last week. The release is conditional and she is still facing charges, so do continue to send her messages of support, and do continue to urge the Tunisian authorities to immediately drop all charges against her. See “Good News” section below.
***THIS EVENING***
106th MANCHESTER AMNESTY SILENT VIGIL for the people of Palestine
St Peters Square, Manchester, Friday 12th December, 5-6pm.
Please do not bring placards, banners or flags.
We will provide placards/banners with Amnesty’s messages Please bring your friends.
The 107th vigil will take place as usual on Friday 19th December, 5-6pm.
There will be no vigils on 26/12/25 or 02/01/26.
The next vigil (108th) will be on 9th January.
***TONIGHT***
The Islamic Society of Britain, Youth Group, and Amnesty International Manchester.
Friday, 12th December, 7:30pm. Stretford Public Hall, Chester Road, M32 9AY.
Genocide, Apartheid, War Crimes – 75 years of injustice. Talk by Mike Reed which will also give a brief account of Amnesty’s history, work and purpose.
The event is free and open to all. Please register here.
Advance notice: The next Manchester Amnesty Group meeting will be on
Monday 11th January, 7pm, online.
We will have a speaker from Refugees at Home, and the main focus of the meeting will be on campaigning for refugee rights. More information and a zoom link will be circulated nearer to the time of the meeting.
The exhibition: Gaza Remains the Story is now on display at Ascension Church, Hulme, M15 5TQ and will remain there at least until the end of the year. Please do visit it.
.
Resist Israel’s Occupation on the 38th Anniversary of the first intifada.
Demonstration and rally, Saturday, 13th December, 12 noon, St Peter’s Square.
Whalley Range Peace and Justice Stand with Palestine
Each Wednesday 5-6pm at Brooks Bar M16 7RN
Didsbury for Palestine, every Wednesday, 5.30-6.30pm location alternates.
17th December outside Coop, 24th December outside Library.
Levenshulme Peace and Justice for Palestine All out for Palestine
Each Thursday, 5-6pm, Levenshulme Village Green, junction of Stockport Rd & Chapel St
plus Levenshulme Consumer Boycott stall
Every first Sunday, (next is 4/1) 11:00-12:30, Outside Tesco on Stockport Road
Please see GMFoP website for up to date information about rallies, protests, events.
Good news
European Union - On 25 November 2025, the Court of Justice ruled that the refusal by a member state (Poland) to recognise a marriage between two citizens of the Union, lawfully contracted in another member state, it is contrary to EU law because it violates that freedom and the right to respect for private and family life. The case relates to a same-sex couple who had been refused citizenship rights.
Democratic Republic of Congo / Rwanda - On November 26, 2025, Arsenal, an English Premier League football club (currently top of the Premier League and Champions League tables), announced that it will not renew its sponsorship contract with "Visit Rwanda", signed in 2018, due to the Rwandan government's support for the M23 armed group, responsible for crimes under international law in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
United States of America - On November 26, 2025, Jimmy Duncan, a death row inmate from Louisiana who had spent nearly 30 years awaiting execution, was released on bail. In April, his conviction for murder was overturned after the evidence on which he was found guilty was deemed "scientifically indefensible."
Pakistan - On November 28, 2025, the Lahore High Court overturned the death sentences, ordering their immediate release, of Faizan Razzaq, Usman Liaqat, Wazir Gul and Muhammad Ameen, who in 2023 had been found guilty of violating blasphemy laws.
Tunisia - On 27 November 2025, Sonia Dahmani, human rights lawyer, journalist and Amnesty International's prisoner of conscience, was conditionally released from prison. In prison since May 2024, she had been sentenced in June 2025 to two years for “crimes of opinion” - expressing criticism of the government during a television program.
Turkey - On November 27, 2025, eight journalists, four lawyers and 87 protesters were acquitted after they were arrested in March for taking part in the mass peaceful protests following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu.
Germany - On December 1, 2025, Libyan citizen Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, one of the leaders of the notorious Mitiga prison, was handed over by German authorities to the International Criminal Court, where he will be tried for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Faroe Islands - On December 4, 2025, parliament definitively approved an amendment to the abortion law that makes it legal to have an abortion up to the twelfth week of pregnancy.
There will be no Fortnightly Action and Newsletter on 26th December, so the next edition will appear on 9th January.
Manchester Amnesty issue and campaign coordinators
Anti-racism –Hazel Errey hazelerrey@gmail.com and Umbareen Siddiqi
Human Rights in the UK Richard Umpleby richump@live.co.uk
Individuals at Risk bi-monthly drop in (next one 22/11/25) Liz Carter lizcarter64@yahoo.co.uk
Israel's Apartheid Against Palestinians - Mike Reed mikewreed101@gmail.com
LGBTQ+ and Pride – Fynn Kawe fynnkawe@gmail.com
Press freedom and Julian Assange – Lima Al-iskalachi limazakoor@gmail.com & Danny Jones dannyj644@gmail.comsu
Prevent campaign – Tom Milnes thomashmilnes@gmail.com
Refugees - Caroline Glendinning caroline.glendinning@york.ac.uk and Alison Wearden
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] MANAGER NEEDED!
Instagram @amnestymanchester [instagram.com] managed by Hazel Errey (hazelerrey@gmail.com)
Digital design coordinator Fynn Kawe fynnkawe@gmail.com
Alison Wearden
Communications Secretary
Manchester Group of Amnesty International.
Please contact me on alison.wearden@gmail.com with items for our Fortnightly Action and News, or with ideas for longer articles for the quarterly Manchester Amnesty Group Bulletin (Mar, Jun, Sep, Dec).
Group email address: manchestergroup@amnesty.org.uk
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