AIUK’s Local Groups’ Newsletter for August had some interesting initiatives. 10 October is the World Day against the Death Penalty, and to launch it this year Amnesty plans to get local Groups to ‘adopt’ a chosen US State that retains the death penalty by writing to the Governor and continuing the dialogue during the coming year.
The first Monthly Action, put forward by Simon, is an Urgent Action for Belarusian political prisoner Maryia Kalesnikava. A classical flautist and political activist, she was kidnapped and arbitrarily detained for her prominent role in the 2020 election.
She was sentenced to in 2021 to 11 years imprisonment. She is denied any external calls, visits, letters, and furthermore, is not allowed to speak with other prisoners. According to confidential sources, Maryia’s health has deteriorated gravely. Simon will translate our protest letters into Russian.
Our second Monthly Action was to add to the demands for freedom for Alaa abdel Fattah who has advocated for human rights in Egypt, and has been unjustly imprisoned since 2019. We made posters of keys demanding ‘Free Alaa now’ for wider publicity.
We signed postcards, brought in by Alun, for two of the eight BK16 who still remain in gaol in India. Sue is writing on behalf of ‘T-shirt protester’ Mahmood Hussein of Egypt, and of Tunisian Sihem Bensedrine, a prominent human rights defender, now in pre-trial detention.
Media of the Month: a 2024 documentary The Commandant’s Shadow. It focuses on the boyhood home life of the son of Auschwitz concentration camp director Rudolf Hoss. The cellist Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, interned in Auschwitz, who met Hoss decades later, is also featured.
Our next meeting is on Tuesday 8th October at 7.30pm in the Quaker Meeting House, Bath Place, Taunton. Hope to see you there!
Amnesty International Taunton Local Group 
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