Weekly Action and News 09/09/2022
Manchester Amnesty Weekly Action and News
Please do this action and make a difference
Don’t deport asylum seekers to Rwanda
The new Prime Minister and Home Secretary have both said that they will pursue (and would even want to extend) the cruel and inhumane plan to deport asylum seekers, including torture survivors, to Rwanda. Freedom from Torture (FfT) are renewing their campaign to persuade the various airlines who could be involved in these deportation flights that this would not only be immoral but bad for their businesses. FfT are contacting big football clubs who use these airline companies to try to get their support. We had an action on this topic in June, but with the case challenging the legality of the government’s Rwanda plan currently before the High court, time is running out. Please take action today. Forward to any football supporting friends. If you have friends in Spain who could get involved please also forward them the link below. If you would like to get involved in our Refugee rights subgroup, please let me know alison.wearden@gmail.com.
September Monthly Online Group Meeting, Monday September 12th, 7.00-8.30pm
Focus on Racial Justice and Anti-Racism
At the September monthly online meeting, we are pleased to welcome Ilyas Nagdee, the AIUK Racial Justice Lead who will talk to us about Amnesty’s work to achieve racial justice. There will be the opportunity to discuss our own anti-racism work with Ilyas and to think about future actions and campaigns. And of course, you will also be able to catch up on all our other work and news.
Everyone is welcome, including new members. Please look out for an email with the zoom link.
Events coming up soon!
Reminder:
AIUK have arranged for Mike Reed to present his talk “Israel’s apartheid against Palestinians – The Amnesty Report and Campaign” at 2 online sessions on Monday 12 September at 5.30pm and Wed 14 September at 6.00pm. Our members can join if they wish. Please let Mike Reed know if you wish to join one of these meetings so that he can arrange for AIUK to send you the joining link, mikewreed101@gmail.com/ 07766 083765
Our next appeal writing drop-in session will take place in the Café of Manchester Central Library on 24th September, 2-4pm. More details to follow
Members may be interested in this event at the Friends Meeting House on 27th September
Events in October – save the dates!
Asylum seekers and mental health
The Syrian refugee support group Rethink Rebuild Society are organising a book launch and panel discussion on 'seeking asylum and mental health’. The event, on Thursday 6 October at 6.30pm at Discovery House in Levenshulme, is for anyone with an interest in the wellbeing and welfare of asylum seekers and refugees. The event is free but donations would be welcome. The link to register and share is: https://seeking-asylum-mental-health.eventbrite.co.uk or see the
Facebook event page.
Forthcoming Manchester Amnesty event
A guided walk led by Steve Roman, to raise funds for Manchester Amnesty, will take place on Saturday 8 October, from 1.30-3.30pm. The accessible walk will cover sites connected with the growth of Manchester as the world’s first industrial city and its importance as a centre for peace and radical political activity, focussing on Human Rights. Look out for details of the walk, including the cost (suggested donation likely to be around £7.50 or whatever you can pay) and how to book your place, in a future newsletter.
Good news
Vietnam - On September 2, 2022, marking the 77th National Day, President Nguyen Xuao Phuc commuted the death sentences of 10 prisoners. However, they still face life imprisonment.
Republic of San Marino - On 31 August 2022, the Great and General Council approved at second reading a law regulating the voluntary termination of pregnancy, having previously repealed by a large majority a law from 1865 that punished those who procured an abortion with sentences between six months and three years in prison.
Maldives – On 18 August, 2022, Maldivian activist Mohamed Rusthum Mujuthaba was relieved from further imprisonment on charges of blasphemy and possession of “obscene material”. He had spent six months in pretrial detention, in excess of the sentence stipulated under domestic laws.
Manchester Amnesty Subgroups and other work
If you would like to join any of our subgroups, please contact the current convenors for joining details.
UAE – Kathryn Fletcher, bussk@btinternet.com
Anti-racism – Hazel Errey, hazelerrey@gmail.com,
Refugees – Alison Wearden, alison.wearden@gmail.com
HR in UK – Matthew Sherwood, m.j.sherwood@outlook.com
Craftivism - Kathryn Fletcher bussk@btinternet.com
Other areas of work are led by:
Crisis and Tactical Afghanistan, Myanmar, Syria, Ukraine, Yemen Rebecca Shaw, r.h.shaw.7@gmail.com
Europe/ Turkey, Fatih Segmen, fsegmen@yahoo.com
Israel's Apartheid Against Palestinians Mike Reed mikewreed101@gmail.com
Individuals at Risk (quarterly letter writing) Anne Walker anne.walker9@ntlworld.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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