Fortnightly Action and News 27/06/2025
Manchester Amnesty Fortnightly Action and News
Please do this action and make a difference
The Home Secretary has announced that she intends to proscribe non-violent direct-action group Palestine Action as terrorists. Amnesty International UK, Liberty and other civil liberties groups immediately spoke out against this worrying attack on our right to protest, pointing out that it would set a precedent for further restrictions on our fundamental rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. Proscribing Palestine Action as terrorists would place them in the same category as ISIS and make anyone supporting PA liable to punishment, including long prison sentences. Which organisation will be next? The people of Gaza are daily being killed as they queue for food, and our government is complicit in this ongoing slaughter. We must insist on our right to protest, now and always.
Click this link to find an email you can send to your MP. Amend or add your own points if you wish.
Or click this link to sign a petition to the Home Secretary. Or do both!
Whichever action(s) you take, please do it today or over the weekend, as the proposal to proscribe Palestine Action will be voted on in parliament on Monday 30th June.
Do we have any members who live in Hyde or Stalybridge, with Jonathan Reynolds as their MP? Please let Alison know (alison.wearden@gmail.com). AIUK are looking for members or other activists who may be interested in supporting a campaign about garment workers’ rights.
***THIS EVENING***
MANCHESTER AMNESTY SILENT VIGIL for the people of Palestine
St Peters Square, Manchester, Friday 27th June, 5-6pm.
Please do not bring placards, banners or flags.
We will provide placards with Amnesty’s messages. Feel free to bring your friends.
Amnesty International UK National Conference and AGM – Amplify Summit
5-6 July, Oculus Building, University of Warwick.
The event is free and is open to AIUK members and activists. Anyone can attend but only AIUK members will be able to participate in AGM business; membership of Manchester Amnesty does not mean that you are automatically a member of AIUK. You can sign up to become an AIUK member, get more information and book your conference place here.
Other events and actions
Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine and other organisations
Stop the US-Israeli Massacres of the Starving
Demonstration and rally, Saturday, 28th June, 12-2.30pm, Piccadilly Gardens.
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. June 18th outside Co-op; June 25th 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
For numerous rallies, vigils, protests and actions in other locations please see GMFoP website
Good news
Saudi Arabia - On May 27, 2025, Abdullah Salhil Allah al-Huwaiti, protester against forced evictions and land expropriations carried out to implement the Neom "city of the future" project, was released from prison. He had been arrested on November 24, 2020 and sentenced, in 2022, to 16 years in prison, later raised to 50 years.
Mali - On June 5, 2025, Alassane Abba, secretary of an outlawed oppostion party, was found free in the street, after having been arrested and detained for criticizing the ruling military junta for human rights violations and unwillingness to hold new elections.
Guatemala - On June 5, 2025, the United Nations Human Rights Committee condemned the state for violating the rights of Fátima, a survivor of sexual violence who had been forced to continue her pregnancy. In 2010, when aged 13, Fátima had been raped by a teacher and forced to leave school to "protect the decorum of the institution".
Italy - On June 16, 2025, Marjan Jamali, an Iranian citizen who was arrested in October 2023, after landing in Italy seeking protection, and who was then charged with aiding and abetting irregular immigration, was acquitted. His case had been supported by Amnesty International Italy.
Central African Republic - On 19 June 2025, the Specialised Criminal Court, a hybrid justice body composed of national and international judges and staff, sentenced six members of a rebel group to between 18 and 20 years in prison for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in March 2020 in the city of Ndélé.
UK - On June 20, 2025, in a preliminary judgment, the High Court in London ruled that the oil company Shell can be held liable for pollution in the Nigerian state of the Niger River Delta.
United States of America - On June 20, 2025, a federal judge ordered the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian student at Columbia University arrested on March 8 and at risk of deportation as a "foreigner hostile to American foreign policy". The judge accepted the appeal of Khalil's lawyers, calling his detention "motivated by punitive intent related to his political activism". Amnesty International had launched urgent action on his behalf.
Afghanistan - On June 22, 2025, Sayed Rahim Saidi, director, director and producer of the YouTube channel Anar Media, was released from prison. He had been arrested on July 14, 2024 and sentenced to three years in prison for "spreading propaganda against the regime" of the Taliban. Amnesty International had launched urgent action on his behalf.
UK – On June 24, following a resolution passed at its AGM, the Co-op confirmed it would stop selling goods from Israel and 16 other countries identified as committing human rights abuses and violating international law.
The next Fortnightly Action and News will be on 11th July
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 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] We are looking for help to manage our Insta account!
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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