February 7, 2010 by joanne
Last week, two men were hanged after being accused of inciting the post-June 12 election violence that erupted last summer in Iran. The Iranian government failed to answer one key question – how could these men have been responsible for the violence when they were being held in detention long before it even occurred?
As if this injustice wasn’t enough, now the lives of 9 more men hang in the balance on similar charges. Amnesty International is that some of them may be executed before February 11th – a date holding much significance in Iran and one that could signify an end to these abuses.
February 11th is known as Victory of the Revolution Day – equivalent to the Fourth of July in the United States; it is meant to symbolize liberty, independence and freedom. Authorities in Iran fear that February 11th will spark a wave of massive protests and unite Iranians in their calls for change and accountability.
That is why on February 11th we should stand in solidarity with the Iranian people on this important date.
Continue Reading »
Posted in Iran | Leave a Comment »
January 25, 2010 by joanne
Back in November, Central American RAN Coordinator Marylou Noble brought copies of letters to the Group 48 meeting that were addressed to the Mexican authorities in regards to the treatment of migrants in north-eastern Mexico. The meeting attendees gladly signed the letters and Marylou put them into the mail. About a month later, several members of Group 48 received letters of reply from the Mexican authorities. This is really rare. It is so rare that group’s founder, Jane Kristof commented this is only the third time she received a reply from government authorities in over 30 years of volunteering for Amnesty International.
Continue Reading »
Posted in Group 48, Mexico | Leave a Comment »
January 12, 2010 by joanne
A proposed bill storming through Uganda’s parliament is one of the most severe pieces of anti-homosexuality legislation in the entire world! If it passes, it would establish an alarming precedent that would virtually annihilate the human rights of Uganda’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) population.
In October 2009, Parliamentarian David Bahati introduced draconian legislation in Uganda that would make “any form of sexual relations between persons of the same sex” punishable by prison or even death. The bill even takes aim at those offering protection or support to any LGBT person by instituting harsh prison sentences of up to 7 years.
If the Ugandan Parliament chooses to endorse this hateful legislation, it would be responsible for depriving countless Ugandans of their human rights as well as placing LGBT people throughout the world at significantly greater risk.
Continue Reading »
Posted in Africa, Uganda | Tagged LGBT, online action | Leave a Comment »
January 7, 2010 by joanne
Iranian authorities arrested internationally acclaimed human rights advocate Emadeddin Baghi on December 28th. More than one week later, his family still has not heard from him.
Baghi suffered seizures and a heart attack during a previous prison term. His health hangs in the balance as he languishes in incommunicado detention.
Baghi is no stranger to harassment by Iranian authorities. He has faced harsh prison sentences 3 times over the past decade and Iran’s government has banned many of his books.
Continue Reading »
Posted in Iran | Tagged Emadeddin Baghi, online action | Leave a Comment »
December 21, 2009 by joanne
Amnesty International
21 December 2009
Salil Shetty next Secretary General of Amnesty International
Amnesty International has appointed Salil Shetty as its next Secretary General. Shetty, an Indian national, has been the Director of the UN’s Millennium Campaign for the past six years and the Chief Executive of international anti-poverty NGO ActionAid before then.
“We are thrilled that Salil will be joining us and leading Amnesty International as we renew our fight to end injustice – campaigning with those imprisoned because of their ideas, those on death row, those being tortured, and those who have their rights denied because they live in poverty,” said Peter Pack, the chair of Amnesty’s International Executive Committee [the organization's governing body].
Continue Reading »
Posted in AI press release | Leave a Comment »
