Report from our January meeting

Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe went on a three-day hunger strike in protest against being denied specialist medical care.

Our December Write for Rights Campaign stall at St Mary Magdalene Church, Taunton, resulted in 71 Write for Rights cards being signed and sent to human rights defenders around the world.

Sue Hazelwood, the Group’s Treasurer and responsible for Middle East and North African campaigns, had prepared a number of letters to the authorities in Egypt: for Assa Mohamed (imprisoned and tortured at the age of 14); a call to investigate the torture and murder in Egypt of academic Julio Regini, and a solidarity card for Ali Aarras in Morocco.

We heard reports from our Death Penalty co-ordinator: the Christmas period seems to have been looked on as ‘a day to bury bad news’ with a number of executions, and also from our Women’s Human Rights co-ordinator. She reported that Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe (Iran) was intending to go on hunger strike on January 14 in protest against her continued detention. A petition has been launched again for her.

Our next meeting is on Tuesday 12th February at 7.30pm at the Friends’ Meeting House, Bath Place, Taunton, which will include our AGM. All are welcome.