IRAN: Dervish Minority on Hunger Strike - URGENT ACTION

Amnesty International, USA, March 30, 2018.

Eight detainees from Iran’s Gonabadi Dervish minority began a hunger strike on 27 March in protest against the torture and other ill-treatment to which they say they are subjected. 

One of the men, Abbas Dehghan, has allegedly been threatened with his wife being raped in front of him if he does not “confess”. The men require medical care for injuries sustained at the time of their arrest on 19 February.

Please take action before May 10, 2018.

CLICK HERE to TAKE ACTION

IRAN: Eleven Women Arrested - URGENT ACTION

Amnesty International, USA, March 29, 2018.

At least 11 women from Iran’s Gonabadi Dervish religious minority have been arbitrarily detained in inhumane conditions, without access to their lawyers, since 20 February following the violent dispersal of a protest held by Gonabadi Derivshes in Tehran. Some urgently need medical care for injuries sustained from beatings at the time of their arrest.

Please Take ACTION before May 10, 2018.

CLICK HERE to TAKE ACTION

ISRAEL: Asylum Seekers Risk Deportation - URGENT ACTION

Amnesty International, USA, March 28, 2018.

Thousands of Eritrean and Sudanese asylum-seekers are at risk of either being forced to go to Rwanda or Uganda, where their protection is not guaranteed, or being indefinitely detained in Israel. While some are already detained, the Israeli authorities have given others until early April to leave the country or be detained.

CLICK HERE to TAKE ACTION

Please Take Action Before May 9, 2018

EGYPT: Two At Risk for Execution - URGENT ACTION

Amnesty International, USA, March 28, 2018.

On 26 March, the Supreme Military Court of Appeals upheld the death sentences of two men, Ahmed Amin Ghazali and Abdul Basir Abdul Rauf. The two men are at imminent risk of execution unless President Abdelfatah al-Sisi decides within 14 days of the sentence date to pardon or mitigate the sentence.

CLICK HERE to TAKE ACTION

Please Take Action Before May 9, 2018.

KAZAKHSTAN: Woman Detained for Using Social Media - URGENT ACTION

Amnesty International, USA, March 27, 2018.

Since 13 March, bloggers, activists and members of the public across the country have been summoned and warned by the police that they could be prosecuted for supporting the Democratic Choice party on social media. 

On 15 March, Almalinsky district court in Almaty sanctioned the house arrest of 27-year-old graphic designer, Akmaral Tobylova...for allegedly financing an extremist group. 

She told the Kazakhstani International Bureau of Human Rights: “I just read the site and looked at the news. There was nothing forbidden there. I was interested in their programme because they promised good pensions and housing.” Akmaral Tobylova is a prisoner of conscience, detained for the peaceful exercise of her right to freedom of expression. According to the Kazakhstani International Bureau of Human Rights, two other anonymous people, who wish to remain anonymous, have also been detained as part of a crackdown against those who appear to show support for the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan party.

CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION

NORTH KOREA: Forcibly Returned Woman No Longer at RISK - GOOD NEWS

Amnesty International, USA, March 25, 2018.

Koo Jeong-hwa is no longer at imminent risk of being sent to a political prison camp according to her husband who recently received reliable information about her situation.

Koo Jeong-hwa’s son was released twenty days after the transfer, and he is currently staying with his grandmother. 

Amnesty International has been in communication with Koo Jeong-hwa’s husband, who now lives in South Korea, and has asked that information about her whereabouts not be made public for now. He thanked Amnesty International supporters for taking acting action on his family’s behalf, and believed that it was helpful.

CLICK HERE to READ

USA: Gay Man Faces Deportation - URGENT ACTION

Amnesty International, USA, March 25, 2018.

Sadat I., 31, a gay man from Ghana, has been detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since claiming asylum at the US-Mexico border on 17 January 2016; he is now held in Pearsall, Texas. Sadat fled Ghana in November 2015 after being beaten by members of the vigilante group ‘Safety Empire’, which burned down his house and beat his uncle three days later as Sadat was in hiding.

Homosexuality remains a criminal offense in Ghana...

Despite evidence that Sadat would continue to face persecution, imprisonment, and threats to his life if returned there, US authorities have denied his parole and are seeking his deportation…

Sadat’s family sent him a video as evidence of the ongoing threats of persecution he faces, yet ICE removed the video from his package without informing him.

Detention should only be used by immigration officials as a last resort and justified on a case by case basis. Parole should be granted for humanitarian reasons where the person does not pose a threat to public safety and presents no flight risk.

CLICK HERE to TAKE ACTION

EGYPT: Death Penalty for Taking Pictures - ONLINE PETITION

Amnesty International, Australia, March 23, 2018.

Shawkan has now been in prison for nearly five years. While the last five years have been devastating for Shawkan and his family, you’ve given them hope. They’ve heard about the hundreds of thousands of supporters lobbying tirelessly for Shawkan’s release – penning tens of thousands of letters, attending protests and vigils, and calling Egyptian embassies on his behalf.

Please sign today if you can.  Thank you.

CLICK HERE to SIGN PETITION

USA: Gun Violence is Human Rights Issue - ARTICLE

Amnesty International, USA, March 22, 2018.

There’s a crucial point missing from the debate about gun violence: Saving lives is not a policy choice for elected officials to consider or ignore — rather, it is a binding legal obligation on the US government under human rights treaties that the US has signed and ratified, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Taken together, these human rights treaties can be thought of as a constitution for the world, enshrining rights like life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all people in all places, without discrimination or prejudice of any kind.

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SOUTH SUDAN: Two Sentenced to Death - URGENT ACTION

Amnesty International, USA, March 20, 2018.

James Gatdet and William Endley, who had both been arbitrarily detained at the National Security Services (NSS) headquarters in Juba, were convicted and sentenced to death by a High Court in Juba on 12 February and 23 February, respectively. They are appealing their sentences.

CLICK HERE to TAKE ACTION

INDIA: Journalist Freed - GOOD NEWS

Amnesty International, USA, March 19, 2018.

Kamran Yousuf, a freelance journalist, was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in September 2017 in relation to a case of alleged funding of terror-related acts as well as accusations that he had thrown stones at security forces. On 14 March 2018, after six months of pre-trial detention, he was released from prison after a special court in Delhi granted his bail application the previous day.

In January 2018, the NIA formally charged Kamran Yousuf, along with 11 others, with offences under the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), including ‘criminal conspiracy’, ‘waging war against the government of India’, committing ‘unlawful activities’ and being a ‘member of a terrorist organization’. The primary evidence put forward for these charges were that his mobile number was “persistently located at places where counter-terrorist operations were in progress” and that he was not a “real journalist” as he had not covered developmental activities carried out by the government.

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OHIO: Stop Scheduled Execution - ONLINE PETITION

Amnesty International, USA, March 17, 2018.

According to Phyllis R. Crocker, Supreme Court Joint Task Force on the Administration of Ohio’s Death Penalty from 2011-2014:

OHIOANS, no matter their view of capital punishment, want the death penalty to be both fair and accurate. This is why Gov. John Kasich should not allow the 

scheduled April 11 execution of William T. Montgomery to go forward.

Montgomery has been on Ohio’s death row for over 31 years for the 1986 murders of Cynthia Tincher and Debra Ogle in Toledo. He has consistently maintained his innocence from the time of his arrest. I don’t know if he is innocent or guilty, but I can say this: If death penalty reforms recommended in 2014 had been in place, he would not be facing execution.

See also  www.otse.org for more information.

CLICK HERE to SIGN PETITION

USA: Release 15 year old and her Father - ONLINE PETITION

Amnesty International, USA, March 17, 2018.

Astrid was fourteen-years-old when she was asleep in her room on February 20th. She was awoken by six armed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents standing before her bed, yelling.

Astrid had gone to bed the night before expecting—as always—to go to school the next day. Instead she watched as her father Arturo was placed in handcuffs. They were then brought to the Berks County Residential Center with Astrid still in her pajamas. 

Astrid just turned 15 two days ago, on March 15th. She had been eagerly planning her quinceañera before she was taken by ICE and sent to Berks County Residential Center. Astrid and Arturo came to the United States in February 2015 after fleeing harm in their home country because of their identity as Indigenous K’iche.

Take action now: Demand authorities release Astrid and Arturo.

USA: Upcoming Mobilizations - EVENTS/ACTIONS

Amnesty International, USA, March 16, 2018.

March for Our Lives:

Join Amnesty delegations and march in the following cities: Washington DC, New York City, Boston, Chicago, Atlanta, Oakland and Los Angeles, Orange County, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Dallas / Fort Worth, Minneapolis, Columbus and Detroit.

Also, Take online action to key individuals: Trump, Congress, Senators ,... whoever and however you can:

https://act.amnestyusa.org/page/20981/action/1

https://act.amnestyusa.org/page/20979/data/1

http://org2.salsalabs.com/…/1…/p/dia/action4/common/public/…

USA: Ensure Native Women's Access to Healthcare - ONLINE PETITION

Amnesty International, USA, March 14, 2018.

All healthcare is not the same in the United States, especially for Native women. Many Native American and Alaska Native women receive their care from Indian Health Service (IHS), a federal agency responsible for providing Native American health care.

For these women, this can mean not having access to basic post-rape care. That’s because IHS facilities don’t always follow their own guidelines for post-rape care; they might not even have rape kits available. This leaves many Native women without adequate care and justice.

CLICK HERE to SIGN PETITION

MADISON: Rachel Corrie Commemorative Benefit - EVENT

Amnesty International, Groups 139, March 15, 2018

 Join us For Madison’s 2018 Tribute to Rachel Corrie: 

Radiance of Resistance 

Sunday, April 8, 2018 • 2-5 pm 

St. James Catholic Church • 1128 St. James Court • Madison WI 53715 

Featuring 

• Rachel’s Parents Craig and Cindy Corrie 

• U.S. & Palestinian International Solidarity Movement Volunteers 

• Scenes from the new film, Radiance of Resistance, about Palestinian youth activists Ahed Tamimi and Janna Ayyad. 

Plus 

• Hummus, Tabbouleh and Desserts including Baklawa 

• Door Prizes! 

• Palestinian olive oil, olive oil soap, zaatar & maftool, embroidery, and other crafts available for purchase. 

March 16, 2018 marked 15 years since American peace activist and International Solidarity Movement (ISM) volunteer Rachel Corrie was run over and killed by an Israeli soldier driving an armored Caterpillar bulldozer as she tried to stop the demolition of a family home in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Palestine. 

Join Rachel’s parents Craig and Cindy Corrie and representatives of the ISM for this annual event that benefits Palestinian children. 

Free and open to the public. 

$5 suggested donation to cover cost of food. 

Donations will be gratefully accepted to help support the Samira Remedial Education Project for disadvantaged and traumatized children in Rafah. 

If possible, please RSVP to dwalbaum@gmail.com so that we will have enough food. 

Sponsored by Madison-Rafah Sister City Project, Playgrounds for Palestine-Madison, 

Jewish Voice for Peace-Madison, and Good Shepherd Parish Social Justice Committee 

For more information visit www.madisonrafah.org or www.facebook.com/madisonrafah

MILWAUKEE: Milwaukee Muslim Women's Coalition - NETWORKING BRUNCH

IRAN: Appalling Conditions in Shahr-e Rey Prison - PRESS RELEASE

Amnesty International, USA, March 10, 2018.

Two women human rights defenders jailed for defending women’s rights and opposing the death penalty are being subjected to escalating ill-treatment in Shahr-e Rey Prison...Amnesty International revealed. The organization is calling for the women’s immediate and unconditional release.

Atena Daemi and Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee are being held in unsanitary conditions in the quarantine section of the prison and their access to the outside world is being severely restricted. People detained in this section are given inadequate food and provided with salty water to drink. 

Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee, who has been on hunger strike for 35 days, is in very poor health. In the past week, she was placed on IV fluids without her consent, and at times has been unable to move. 

CLICK HERE to READ MORE

EQUATORIAL GUINEA: Cartoonist Freed - GOOD NEWS

Amnesty International, USA; March 9, 2018.

On 7 March, Equatorial Guinean cartoonist and activist, Ramón Esono Ebalé was released from Malabo Black Beach prison eight days after the charge against him had been dropped.

Ramón went on trial on 27 February in Malabo after he had spent more than five months in pre-trial detention.  After the trial, the state dropped the charge of ‘counterfeiting money’ against Ramón. Ramón had formally been informed of the charge against him on 7 December 2017. The charge was dropped after the state’s main witness retracted his testimony against Ramón and admitted that he had been asked to accuse Ramón of counterfeiting activities.

CLICK HERE to READ MORE

BELARUS: Health Concerns for Jailed Activist - URGENT ACTION

Amnesty International, USA, March 8, 2018

In October 2016, activist Dzmitry Paliyenka was found guilty of “violence or threat of violence against an employee of law enforcement agencies” and “production and distribution of pornographic materials or items of pornographic character” and given a two-year prison sentence. 

The charges, trumped-up, were related to a cycling event which took place in Minsk, the Belarusian capital, on 29 April 2016 to peacefully protest against restrictions on cyclists.

Since his arrival in prison in April 2017, Amnesty International has received consistent reports that Dzmitry Paliyenka has been singled out by the prison authorities and subject to harsh treatment. He is spending 10 days each month in solitary confinement...Mail posted to him is being withheld and letters are not being sent. His friends held a solidarity card-writing campaign for him at the end of December 2017, over the New Year period, but he has not received a single card. 

CLICK HERE to TAKE ACTION

SYRIA: Stop the Killing in Eastern Ghouta - ONLINE ACTION

Amnesty International, USA, March 7, 2018

The Syrian government, backed by Russia, is bombing its own people in Eastern Ghouta. Scores of people have been killed and hundreds injured in the past month.

This is not new for the people of Eastern Ghouta: people who’ve been trapped in a cruel siege for nearly six years are now being attacked daily, killed and maimed by their government. Children and elderly people are dying of malnutrition and lack of medication.

Tell the Syrian and Russian governments to end the attacks and lift the siege on Eastern Ghouta immediately.

The attacks must be stopped. Humanitarian aid must be allowed into Eastern Ghouta.

We succeeded in creating pressure and noise around the world for Aleppo – and we can succeed in helping the people under attack in Eastern Ghouta.

CLICK HERE to TAKE ACTION

CHINA: Uighur Relatives at Risk of Torture - URGENT ACTION

Amnesty International, USA, March 1, 2018.

Approximately 20 relatives of Gulchehra Hoja, a Uighur journalist living abroad, have been detained and are at risk of torture. Based in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR) of China, her family members are all thought to have been targeted due to Gulchehra Hoja’s work.

CLICK HERE to TAKE ACTION

OHIO: Halt Execution of Wm Montgomery - URGENT ACTION

Amnesty International, USA, March 2, 2018.

William Montgomery is due to be executed in Ohio on 11 April for a 1986 murder he says he did not commit. Six federal judges argued he should have had a new trial because a police report contradicting the state’s theory of the case was withheld from the defence.

CLICK HERE to TAKE ACTION

AUSTRALIA: Support Community Sponsorship for Refugees - ONLINE EMAIL

Amnesty International, Australia, Mar. 1, 2018.

Community sponsorship – where everyday people in a community choose to contribute towards the costs of resettling a refugee – has worked in Canada for over 280,000 refugees. It can work in Australia as well.

We’re a decent country, and our communities are well-equipped to offer solutions like community sponsorship. We can harness the strength and compassion behind almost 150 self-declared refugee welcome zones across the country, that are already home to refugees with incredible stories of sacrifice, courage and contribution.

CLICK HERE to TAKE ACTION