Forensic medicine expert and human rights defender Professor Şebnem
Korur Fincancı has dedicated her life to eradicating torture and
defending human rights.
Trying to silence her, the Turkish authorities have subjected Şebnem
to baseless criminal investigations. In 2023, she was convicted for
allegedly “making propaganda for a terrorist organization” after she
had called for an investigation into allegations that the Turkish
military was using chemical weapons in Iraq.
Şebnem is appealing against her conviction but could be imprisoned
for almost two years if unsuccessful.
Tell the Turkish authorities to stop their harassment of Şebnem.
"I have now completed my seventh year in prison. During
this time, I have endured a judicial process that entirely violated
the presumption of innocence, relying on baseless accusations and
false statements,"
Kavala wrote in an open letter....
"True consolation for me will be seeing progress toward
the rule of law in my country. I believe this will happen."
Saudi Arabia will NOT be joining the UN Human Rights Council
Last week was an important milestone.
Mohammed bin Salman’s regime was finally judged on its actions,
not its PR campaign, when member states voted to deny Saudi
Arabia’s bid to join the UN Human Rights Council.
This vote matters and here’s why:
For far too long, the Saudi regime has acted as if it can commit
severe human rights abuses, knowing that its international allies
would look the other way.
The Kingdom’s execution crisis continues to grow, with authorities
executing their highest number of people in one year, at least
219.
These executions were for crimes that included drug offences and
simply standing up for human rights.
The Saudi Government spent huge sums of money promoting a false
vision of the Kingdom, selling stories of progress on human rights
while cracking down on anyone who disagrees with their rule.
Can Atalay ~ the fight goes on....
Can Atalay, one of the Turkish prisoners whom Amnesty York is
supporting, was the spark for a massive brawl in the Turkish
parliament on 16th August 2024.
Can Atalay was elected an MP for the Workers’ Party of Turkey (TIP)
after being sentenced to 18 years in prison, after a controversial
trial, in 2022 following the protests linked to Gezi Park in 2016.
The government removed his status as MP immediately. It would have
ensured his release from prison. Subsequently, the Constitutional
Court of Turkey, the highest court, ruled that the removal of his
status as MP was illegal. The highest criminal court in Turkey
over-ruled the Constitutional Court (in theory, impossible to do)
and Can Atalay remained in prison. Recently the Constitutional Court
repeated its decision in favour of Can Atalay.
The subsequent discussion of the status of Can Atalay in the Turkish
parliament ended in a mass fight (see link to footage below). The
footage shows Ahmet Sik, MP of the Workers' Party of Turkey (TIP),
giving a speech in defence of Can Atalay, as Alpay Ozalan, an MP
from Erdogan's ruling AK party, gets up to hit him. Mr Sik falls to
the ground and MPs from other parties join the melee.
John McDonnell MP and trade union leaders call for release of
Egyptian textile workers
Leaders of some of Britain’s biggest trade unions representing
hundreds of thousands of workers across public services, health,
education and transport sectors have joined Labour MP John McDonnell
in condemning the arrest and detention of workers from Egyptian
textile factory Misr Spinning in Mahalla al-Kubra following a strike
in late February. Maryam Eslamdoust, of the TSSA transport workers
union, Patrick Roach of the teachers union NASUWT are two union
General Secretaries backing a statement demanding the release of the
5 workers. They are joined by Julia Mwaluke, Vice-President of
Unison which represents 1.3 million workers across the public
sector, and Pat Davis, Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee of
Unite, another of Britain’s largest trade unions with 1.4 million
members across all sectors of the economy.
The five textile workers were arrested after a successful strike by
thousands of workers at Misr Spinning’s massive factory won pay
rises to combat the spiralling cost of living which has plunged
millions of Egyptians deeper into poverty. Egypt’s military
dicatorship criminalises strikes and protests and wants to take
revenge for Mahalla workers’ defiance.
Dozens of other trade unionists who took part in the ‘Stop the Hate’
anti-racist protest in London on 16 March also backed the statement.
more online
Hoda Abdelmoniem faces more bogus charges...
Egyptian human rights lawyer, Hoda Abdelmoniem, rather than being
released at the end of her unjust five-year sentence, was instead
ordered into pretrial detention pending investigations into yet more
bogus terrorism-related charges. Please find
online the Eighth UA 190/18 calling for Hoda’s release.
Hoda, 64, has been arbitrarily detained for over five years, solely
in relation to her human rights work. Her health continues to
deteriorate.
We are calling on Egyptian authorities to ensure that Hoda is
immediately and unconditionally released.
A lovely note from Italy
This note was left in the York Amnesty International Book shop
in Micklegate. It is also where we hold most of our Amnesty
International, York, monthly meetings. Do feel free to join us.
A PAT ON THE BACK FOR AMNESTY YORK FROM TURKEY!
Milena Buyum, the senior AMNESTY campaigner for Türkiye this letter
to all campaigners for the Gezi 7 prisoners in Istanbul in December
2023.
Dear all,
Together with Türkiye researcher Begüm Başdaş and Europe Research
Director Dinushika Dissanayake, we visited Mücella Yapıcı and Hakan
Altınay in Istanbul, the two Gezi prisoners of conscience who were
released at the end of September following the overturning of their
convictions. They face retrial under the Law on Meetings and
Demonstrations which is set to begin in February. We will of course
continue to monitor this retrial and keep you informed.
I wanted to briefly share with you both their gratitude for all the
messages they received from around the world. There were many many
letters… Unprompted, they explained how much difference this made to
them while they were held behind bars. Hakan mentioned steady stream
of letters and cards, giving the example of
Amnesty activists from York in the UK, and how writing back
was also very important to him. Mücella said this was one very
crucial way to ensure people in prison feel they are not forgotten,
a feeling that helped her a lot.
Thank you all for everything you have so far done to show solidarity
with the Gezi PoCs. As you know Osman Kavala, Mine Özerden, Çiğdem
Mater, Can Atalay and Tayfun Kahraman are still unjustly imprisoned.
Please continue to write to them.
As you can see, our solidarity messages to the Gezi 7 are incredibly
important. More are on their way as I type! Barbara L. Amnesty York
Amnesty International Bookshop in York has relocated to 19
Micklegate York YO1 6JH.
The team from York Unlocked visited the shop earlier this month and
made this video: beautiful building, welcoming bookshop.
Amnesty York’s installation of the sea with a flotilla of origami
boats (folded by Amnesty York, York for Europe and RAY) was
displayed in the Minster’s South Piazza by the Roman column on
Saturday October 23rd. This was in recognition of the thousands of
people who try to cross the Mediterranean each year.
The display was the focus of many passers-by throughout the day.
It was also an opportunity to make new Amnesty friends and meet up
with established York group members. The Revd Canon Michael Smith
joined us to express his support and undertook to remember those
who perish in this way at evensong at the Minster.
Of those fleeing their homelands, some seek asylum, some flee
poverty. This year, more than 700 (and counting) have drowned.
The stream of people will not stop until the world works together to
solve the problems which send them on their journey. In the
meantime, Amnesty International is pressing for:
— the creation of safe and legal routes to Europe for asylum-seekers
(to put an end to people smuggling) along with a fair asylum
assessment procedure.
- the end of the practice by FRONTEX, the EU border force, in
cooperation with the Libyan coastguard of forcing people back to
holding camps in Libya where they are forgotten, ill-treated and
die.
- the end of prosecutions of people and organisations such as
Médecins sans Frontières and Save The Children International for
saving lives at sea (as is current, for example, in Italy).
* NB There are about 26 million refugees worldwide. In 2020, the UK
had 35,770 asylum applications.
Get involved in York Amnesty
in York, UK
Our Amnesty York group meets monthly to plan campaigns, lobbying and
fundraising events. We are always looking to welcome new members to
the group. No prior knowledge required - just an interest in
protecting human rights!
Join us on the second Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm.
Meetings are currently taking place at the Amnesty International
Bookshop in Micklegate, York.
here
About Amnesty International, YORK
Our group is made up of like minded people who want to do their bit
to protect humanity and human rights around the world.
We organise fundraisers such as: quizzes, ceilidhs and writing
competitions.
We do letter writing to support prisoners
of conscience. Our group enjoys links with local organisations such
as York Pride and Refugee Action Week.
We often welcome
specialist speakers to our meetings, who share their first hand
experiences as human rights defenders around the world. Our aim is
to spread awareness of the important work of Amnesty International
and encourage active engagement in standing up for human rights.
Who are Amnesty International?
Amnesty International is the world's largest grassroots human rights
organisation. It has more than 10 million members worldwide. Amnesty
works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity
are denied.
They investigate and expose abuses, educate
and mobilise the public, and help transform societies to create a
safer, more just world. Visit the Amnesty International Website to
find out more.
Time To Be Out
is a small York based charity which aims to promote the social
inclusion of LGBT+ asylum seekers and refugees
An important message from our friends at the Woman Life Freedom
Collective...
You may have heard the recent heart breaking news that a further two
Iranian men have been executed by the regime. Please do spread
awareness amongst your networks -
here
are profiles of those executed so far and those awaiting their death
sentence. Sunday (8 January)
marked the third year anniversary
of the shooting down of Ukrainian Passenger Flight PS752 by Iran’s
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that caused the death of all
176 people on board - so far no one has been held accountable. There
were rallies held in London and globally in support. Please do also
read, sign and share this
Woman, Life, Freedom Charter
that has already gained the support of over 1600 people. It is only a
draft and anyone signing can add their own suggestions.
We will be holding another rally in St Helen's Square on the
18 February 2023 from 11 am. Please join us! We will update you
on further details and plans for the day, but invite you to share the
date amongst your contacts and to share any ideas you have for making
it a rally to remember!
We will also be seeking to organise events to mark International
Women's Day (8 March 2023) and will again update you on further
details.
The collective is a small group of individuals from York who care
deeply about human rights and the revolution in Iran. We warmly invite
you to join our discussions - we aim to meet every fortnight to
discuss how we can show our solidarity with the people of Iran, and we
also have a Whatsapp group where we share ideas. Please let me know if
you wish to join us in person and / or on Whatsapp. You can also
follow us on
Instagram.
With best wishes and hope for the victory of the Iranian revolution in
2023, Woman Life Freedom Collective York
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, YORK
The quilt comes home
Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness
This beautiful creation was made by thirty local groups and societies
in 2011 to mark the 50th anniversary of Amnesty International. The
groups were invited to design and make a square based around the
Chinese proverb above. The quilt is over nine feet tall and is
currently on display in the stairwell at Friargate (the Friends'
Meeting House, York, where we hold our meetings) for you to come and
see.
SUPPORT THE UKRAINE WITH LOCAL ARTWORK
York artist Linda Combi has created beautiful cards to support the
work of UNHCR current crisis. They’re A5 folded cards with designs on
both sides, and include envelope.
