Weekly Action and News 12/05/2023
Manchester Amnesty Weekly Action and News
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On 30 March, the Court of Appeal of Mukaza in Bujumbura, Burundi heard the case of Burundian journalist Floriane Irangabiye. She had appealed the decision of the High Court of Mukaza, which convicted her on 2nd January of the trumped-up charge of “undermining the integrity of the national territory” and sentenced her to 10 years in prison and a fine of one million Burundian francs (around USD 482). Floriane Irangabiye has been detained since August 2022. Her prosecution stems from the peaceful exercise of her human rights and relates to her work as a journalist. Amnesty International calls for her immediate and unconditional release and for her conviction to be quashed. You can send an email by clicking the link below.
*****Volunteers needed*****
Please help out on our Amnesty stall, 10th June, Didsbury Festival!
This is a joint activity between the Manchester and Liverpool groups and aims to raise awareness of the impact of climate change on human rights.
We will be using block art to print words and images onto teeshirts and fabric to make a patchwork quilt. Visitors to the stall will be able to take part in these activities.
There will also be a petition about human rights abuses in the UAE, which is hosting COP28.
The stall will run all day. We aim to always have two or three people on the stall. We need volunteers for two-hour sessions. It is guaranteed to be a fun day!
Please contact Kathryn Fletcher urgently if you can help at all - bussk@btinternet.com
On Monday 15th May, it will be 75 years since the “Nakba” or catastrophe which befell the Palestinian people in 1948.
To mark the event, Manchester Palestinian Solidarity Campaign and others are staging a
Regional Demonstration at 12.30pm, Sunday 14th May, Platt Fields Park, Manchester, M14 5LL.
More information here: (18) Nakba 75 Demonstration & March | Facebook
To celebrate his 75th birthday,
and in aid of the Saddleworth Palestinian Women’s scholarship fund (SPWSF)
our member Steve Roman invites you to a magnificent evening of entertainment entitled
“Paul Robeson – the giant in a nutshell”
at the Birch Community Centre in Rusholme on Saturday 17th June at 7:30pm.
Featuring Tayu Aluko, the Obsidian Rock Band, and with a global buffet supper and pay bar.
Proceeds to the SPWSF. More information and get your tickets here:
https://www.wegottickets.com/sct/Gkfp3kRzRW
Many thanks to Rebecca Shaw for her fascinating talk on the work of the Omega Foundation at last Tuesday’s group meeting.
Members who would like to make a donation to the Omega Foundation can do so here.
Omega Research Foundation Ltd - Donate now (cafonline.org)
Dates for upcoming campaigning events. We have a very busy schedule for June!
Please put the following dates on your calendar, and volunteer to help out if you can!
Saturday May 27th – letter-writing drop in, 2-4pm, at Manchester Central Library
Sunday June 4th – Refugee month event at Burnage Open Gardens
Saturday June 10th – Climate and human rights, COP28, UAE/craftivism event at Didsbury Festival
Friday June 16th – stall at Manchester Metropolitan University summer sustainability fair.
Saturday June 17th – Steve Roman’s birthday event in aid of Saddleworth Palestine Women’s Scholarship fund.
Saturday, June 24th Amnesty International UK Section, AGM, London/online. More details to follow.
Sat/Sun June 24/25 – Refugee week events at Chorlton Open Gardens.
Sunday July 16th- UAE/Craftivism event – Arab Arts Festival, Sefton Park, Liverpool.
Good news
Egypt - On May 1, 2023, the Al Jazeera journalist Hisham Abdel Aziz was released. Arrested in June 2019 on trumped-up charges of belonging to a terrorist group, he had spent 4 years in detention.
Myanmar - On May 2, 2023, a religious holiday, the military junta granted pardons to 2153 prisoners (names as yet undisclosed) who had been sentenced under a law that criminalizes encouraging dissent against the armed forces.
United States of America - On May 2, 2023, an Ohio state appeals court ordered a new trial of Lamont Hunter, who in 2007 had been sentenced to death for the murder of his girlfriend's three-year-old son. A new report suggests that the child's death may have been caused by an accidental fall down a flight of stairs.
United States of America - On May 5, 2023, the Federal Supreme Court suspended the execution of Richard Glossip, a death row inmate from the state of Oklahoma about whose guilt there are so many doubts that even the state prosecutor's office has given up on asking for him to be executed.
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 – next meeting tbc please contact Kathryn Fletcher if you would like to join, bussk@btinternet.com
Refugees –next meeting tbc please contact Alison Wearden, if you would like to join alison.wearden@gmail.com
Anti-racism – Next meeting Tuesday 23rd May, 6-7pm, zoom, please contact Hazel Errey if you would like to join hazelerrey@gmail.com
Craftivism – next meeting tbc please contact Kathryn Fletcher if you would like to join bussk@btinternet.com . Kathryn will be stepping down as craftivism coordinator so if you would like to take on this role, please let her know.
Individuals at Risk (bi-monthly letter writing drop ins) Next session, Saturday, 27th May 2-4pm, then 4th Saturday in July, September, November. Manchester Central Library, café area. Contact Anne Walker for more information anne.walker9@ntlworld.com
Other areas of work are led by:
Israel's Apartheid Against Palestinians Mike Reed mikewreed101@gmail.com
LGBTQ+ and Pride coordinator – Zoe Song weiyi.zoe.song@gmail.com
Europe/ Turkey, Fatih Segmen, fsegmen@yahoo.com
Human Rights in the UK, Lancine Sacko, sacko10@hotmail.co.uk
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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