China: Stop Crackdown Against Lawyers and Activists in China - ONLINE PETITION

Amnesty International USA

                                     'Police have come.'

     It was early one Saturday morning when Zhang Kai, a human rights lawyer, sent that text message to his friends. And then he went quiet. He's just one of hundreds of activists and lawyers who have been targeted in an unprecedented nationwide crackdown by Chinese authorities.

     Over 225 Chinese human rights lawyers and activists have been targeted by police in a nationwide crackdown which began on Thursday, July 9. At least 22 are believed to be in some form of detention. Many more have been questioned by police, and at least three law firms have also been searched.

Click here for ONLINE PETITION.

Pakistan: Shafqat Hussain was executed - NEWS

Amnesty International  Toronto
     "Media reports are confirming that Shafqat Hussain was executed shortly in ‪#‎Pakistan‬, despite his 'confession' being tortured out of him - for a crime he allegedly committed at the age of 14. Pakistan lifted moratorium on the death penalty in December 2014. Since then, 180 prisoners have been executed, and around 8,200 prisoners remain on death row."



More links:

• Amnesty International, August 4, 2015: "Shafqat Hussain execution a “deeply sad day” for Pakistan"
• Amnesty International - Malaysia, August 4, 2015: "Shafqat Hussain execution a 'deeply sad day' for Pakistan"
• Amnesty International URGENT ACTION, August 4, 2015:  SHAFQAT HUSSAIN HAS BEEN EXECUTED

Amnesty International: A beginner's guide to human rights jargon

July 31, 2015

     Baffled by technical human rights terms and precise legal definitions? You’re not alone. Here’s a quick glossary of some of the most troublesome words and phrases.

•  commute
• crimes against humanity
• extrajudicial executions
• freedom of expression
• immunity (from prosecution)
• impunity
• prisoner of conscience
• war crimes

Click here for definitions.

AI Madison Group #139 Weekly Member "Other" Links and Petitions (Updated Daily): July 31 to August 7, 2015

We have such a wonderful membership! Not only do we hold human rights dear to our hearts but there are also  other issues such as the environment, poverty, children's health, etc that can be related to human rights but may not be addressed by Amnesty International. Here are some of those links submitted by our members:

•  Join the conversation with #BlackLivesMatter activists on Reddit
• DoSomething: When cops shoot unarmed people, does the public deserve to know? - DAY of ACTION
• WalkFree: Reauthorize the runaway and homeless youth trafficking prevention act now - ONLINE PETITION
•  Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki and Renewing Our Commitment to a Nuclear Weapons Free Future, August 5, in L.A.
• Peace Activist Jerry Rubin to Extend Fast for Nuclear Weapons Abolition, follow him on Facebook. 
• Physicians for Social Responsibility Upcoming Events

Oman: Mahmoud al-Fazari held after activist brother flees country - URGENT ACTION & NEWS

Amnesty International

     Mahmoud bin Khalfan bin Salem al-Fazari, aged 22, was arrested on 22 July after being summoned to the police Special Section (al-Qism al-Khas) in the Qurm area of the capital, Muscat, for questioning about his brother, Mohammed al-Fazari, who had fled the country. 

     After he was arrested, Mahmoud al-Fazari was transferred to Ruwi police station, also in Muscat, and managed to let his family know that he was detained there. His father was allowed one brief meeting with him on 24 July, and saw bruises on his body. During the visit, police officers threatened his father, saying that if his son did not confess to helping his brother flee the country, then other members of their family, including female members, would be summoned to the Special Section for questioning. Mahmoud al-Fazari was returned to the Qurm Special Section, where he is still detained without charge.

     Mohammed al-Fazari, a human rights activist and blogger, left Oman for the United Kingdom, arriving on 17 July. He traveled from Oman despite having had his passport and identification card confiscated and having been under a travel ban by the Omani authorities since December 2014. He had been previously detained solely for the peaceful exercise of his rights.

Click here for addresses and more information.

Also see: 

•  Oman: Release Mahmoud al-Fazari (UA 167/15) from Amnesty International USA
•  Oman: Family of human rights defender Mohammed Al-Fazari targeted by Internal Security Service after he fled the country, July 27, 2015, Gulf Center for Human Rights 

Update 8/7/2015:

Dear Colleages:

RE:  Urgent Action to Oman

Please note the the email address for the Urgent Action to Minister of Justice in Oman bounces.
http://www.amnestyusa.org/get-involved/take-action-now/oman-release-mahmoud-al-fazari-ua-16715

I've tried it twice in the past week and it has bounced each time.

I've reported this to the UA Team.

angie hougas

Congratulations to Farideh and IHERC!

Congratulations to Farideh (one of our AI Madison Group #139 members) and her organization, IHERC,  for their hard work to ban large- capacity ammunition magazines from Los Angeles.

     "Defying sharp warnings from gun rights groups, Los Angeles thrust itself into the national debate over gun control Tuesday, as city lawmakers voted unanimously to ban the possession of firearm magazines that hold more than 10 rounds.

     Such magazines have been “the common thread” in almost all the mass shootings that have devastated the country, from Newtown to Virginia Tech to Columbine, said Juliet Leftwich, legal director for the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. Backers of the plan said it was a small but meaningful step to minimize the bloodshed, by forcing attackers to at least interrupt their rampages to stop and reload."

Click here for the entire article.

L.A. City Council bans large-capacity ammunition magazines, August 1, 2015, LA Times

Amnesty International Daily URGENT ACTIONS - July 31, 2015 to August 7, 2015

Click here for entire list of URGENT ACTION for the week of July 31 to August 7. (This post is updated daily.)

   Countries for this week's Urgent Actions include:  Chad, Bahrain, Libya, Bulgaria, Russian Federation, Oman, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Mexico, Azerbaijan, Myanmar, USA, and Turkmenistan.

Note: Most Urgent Actions require a written letter. See our guidelines for writing letters.  Countries are added to this list during the week. The link contains all Urgent Actions for the week.