Friday, September 9, 2016

AI Madison Group #139 Weekly Update - September 9, 2016

 Photo taken at her home in September 2016. 
Greetings Everyone

     United for Iran and International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran have reported that 35 year old prominent student activist and women's rights campaigner, Bahreh Hedayat, has been released from prison after 2,410 days. This is WONDERFUL news. She was arrested on Dec 31, 2009 and charged with several “offences”, including “interviews with foreign media,” “insulting the leader,” “insulting the president,” and “disrupting public order through participating in illegal gatherings.” She has been held in the infamous Evin prison. Her husband is reportedly "in shock." Amnesty has been working very hard over the years for her release (link and link). Thank you to our many members who have written letters and signed petitions on her behalf. In addition to Bahreh, Malek Adly from Egypt and Saeed Jaddad from Oman have also been released. Time to celebrate!
     The North Dakota pipeline news story is continuing to unfold as of this writing. We have included a link to Amnesty's observer role, some news stories, petitions, and a video.
     Besides our news links, petitions, events, and videos, check out this Guide For What To Do When You See Islamophobia from illustration artist Marie-Shirine Yener. She is
 part Iranian, Turkish, Kurdish and Armenian. Her personal experiences and recent burkini ban controversy motivated Yener to make the comic.
     What are UA's from Amnesty International? Our Weekly Update includes a link to this week's Urgent Actions from AI.  If you click on this link you will find thirteen cases. Some cases include GOOD NEWS and do NOT require further action. Some report executions. Others need your letters. Each case includes: the country, link for more information & action, a brief description of the case & update, name, and gender of the prisoner/case. Thank you to Wayne and Azam for sending us these updates every week. For more information and updates directly from AI, click here.
     Have a wonderful week!
     -Debbie, Weekly Update Editor

Click here for links to this week's Amnesty International and Human Rights Information and Actions