Manchester Amnesty Fortnightly Action and News

Please do this action and make a difference

You may have read recently [theguardian.com] about an open letter coordinated by Together with Refugees [togetherwithrefugees.org.uk], and signed by over 200 organisations including AIUK, calling for an end to the hateful and divisive anti-refugee rhetoric and misinformation that have been fuelling racist demonstrations outside hotels housing asylum seekers. Publicity over the forthcoming removal of asylum seekers from some hotels following the recent High Court ruling in Essex, is only likely to exacerbate the situation. While the TwR letter was originally directed at UK political party leaders, at this critical time we suggest that all of us should email our MPs, asking them to take a stand against anti-asylum seeker and anti-refugee rhetoric. Attached is a template of an email for you to send to your MP – feel free to amend or add to it, especially if you have experience of living or working with refugees that you would like to share. Please do not forget to include your address and postcode so that your MP knows you are their constituent.

TAKE ACTION

***THIS EVENING***

MANCHESTER AMNESTY SILENT VIGIL for the people of Palestine

St Peters Square, Manchester, Friday 22nd 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.

Acoustic Amnesty goes up the wall!

Thursday 28th August, at Band on the Wall. Doors 7pm, start 7.30pm

Featuring:

Last Race Home

Dead Tenant

Dr Uke

£10. Book your tickets here [bandonthewall.org]

!!!SAVE THE DATES!!!

Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine in conjunction with Manchester Amnesty

Some panels from the exhibition “Gaza Remains the Story” will be displayed at the Friends Meeting House, Mount Street Manchester M2 5NS, from 27th September to 10th October.

On 5th October at 2pm, there will be a concert to mark the 75th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights.

More details will be circulated as they become available.

On Saturday, 6th September, 2pm, at Manchester Museum, Oxford Road, M13 9PLManchester4Sudan invite you to a screening of the film

Sudan, Remember Us.

with complimentary Sudanese snacks, and information about Manchester4Sudan.

Tickets £6-£13, with proceeds going to Emergency Response Rooms working in Sudan

More information and book your place here [eventbrite.co.uk].

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

Didsbury against genocide, rally, every Wednesday, 5.30-6.30pm alternates between outside the Library and outside the Coop. 13th August outside Co-op; 20th August 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, (7/9, 5/10, 2/11) 11:00-12:30, Outside Tesco on Stockport Road

Please see GMFoP website [gmfriendsofpalestine.org] for up to date information about rallies, protests, actions

Good news

Council of Europe / Austria - On 12 August 2025, the European Court of Human Rights issued an interim measure to suspend the return of a Syrian asylum seeker to his country of origin, where they would have faced human rights violations.

Norway / Israel - On August 5, 2025, the government ordered its sovereign wealth fund, the largest in the world, to review investments in Israeli companies. The decision was made after press reports that the government had increased its investment in a company that produces planes used by Israeli forces to bomb the occupied Gaza Strip.

Germany / Israel - On August 8, 2025, the German government, the world's second-largest arms supplier to Israel, announced the end of authorizations for the transfer of weapons that can be used in the occupied Gaza Strip.

Bangladesh - On August 7, 2025, finding that there was no basis in law for the charges against him, the High Court suspended judicial proceedings against Shahidul Alam, an internationally renowned photographer. He had been charged with violating the Computer Crimes Act of 2006 by sympathizing with a student protest and had been held in pre-trial detention for 107 days.

The next Fortnightly Action and News will be on 5th September

Manchester Amnesty issue and campaign coordinators

Anti-racism –Hazel Errey hazelerrey@gmail.com

Human Rights in the UK volunteer needed

Individuals at Risk bi-monthly drop in 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 Milnesthomashmilnes@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