Zimbabwe’s 2013 elections are just days away.
When the last elections were held in 2008, a wave of politically motivated violence spread across the country after the first round of polling. More than 200 people were killed, 10,000 injured and 28,000 forced to flee their homes.
Amnesty International USA is calling on the Government of Sri Lanka to “Tell the Truth” on arbitrary detention and torture.
Four years have passed since the end of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan authorities continue to deny mounting evidence of crimes under international law committed by its forces during Sri Lanka’s protracted armed conflict. They also attempt to stop their own citizens from communicating with the UN and other international bodies about serious violations they have witnessed.
Click here to call on the President of Sri Lanka to “Tell the Truth”.
Please note the petition closes on 1 September.
Dilshod Murodov’s mother Lubat Burhanova cuts a single rose from her garden to lay on her son’s grave © Amnesty International/BHR
In 2009, Lubat Burhanova was told that her son Dilshodbek had died in prison from heart failure. When his body was returned for burial she lifted the shroud to find that he had been severely beaten. Lubat believes her son died because he was tortured, and she has been campaigning for justice since.
In Tajikistan, the police and security forces frequently resort to torture and other ill-treatment to obtain confessions. Many victims of torture in pre-trial detention are left with physical and psychological injuries requiring long-term treatment, some die in custody. Those who do survive, often end up in prison after an unfair trial.
Just a reminder that our monthly group meeting takes place tomorrow (Tuesday 9th July) from 8PM at Silver Street Baptist Church, Taunton. Click here to view location on a map.
All are welcome to come along and discuss human rights, receive campaign updates, and take part in letter writing and other actions to promote human rights.
© Amnesty International
In recent months, women protesters standing up for their rights have faced horrific sexual violence around Cairo’s iconic Tahrir Square.
Authorities have done little to stop the sexual violence or bring those responsible to justice. They have also failed to end discrimination against women in law and practice, or to appoint women to key positions in government.
It’s time for Egypt’s political leaders to condemn sexual violence in all its forms, and to put in place a comprehensive plan to protect women’s rights.
Click here to email the Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood Mohammed Badie, and the Secretary General of the Conference Party Amre Moussa.
Reggie Clemons was sentenced to death in St. Louis as an accomplice to a 1991 murder of two young white women. Since his conviction allegations have arisen of police coercion, prosecutorial misconduct, and a ‘stacked’ jury. Yet inadequate legal representation at trial hampered appeal efforts, and a ruling overturning his death sentence was reversed on technical grounds. From the investigation through the appeals process, his case illustrates many of the flaws in the U.S. death penalty system.
Despite so many lingering questions, Missouri is still planning to execute Reggie Clemons.
Shortly after a 2009 execution date was stayed, the Missouri Supreme Court assigned a judge (a “Special Master”) to investigate the reliability of his conviction and proportionality of his sentence. Amnesty International urges the state of Missouri to recognise the serious problems with Reggie Clemons’ case and to commute his death sentence.
If you are able to, please write on Reggie’s behalf. Click here for a template letter.
In 2008 it took the intervention of Zimbabwe’s neighbours in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to stem the bloodshed. This time, we want them to use their influence to prevent the violence from happening in the first place, and send in human rights monitors so that human rights defenders and activists can carry out their work without fear.
Tanzania is chair of the group responsible for peace and security within the region. Help prevent the bloodshed returning in 2013 – click here to sign our petition to the Tanzanian President, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete.
Hakamada Iwao is 77 years old. He has spent the majority of his life on death row, awaiting execution every day for a crime he claims he did not commit. Hakamada is said to be suffering from a severe mental illness as a result of many years spent in solitary confinement. New DNA evidence could reinforce his claims of innocence. Please help us to ask for a retrial for Hakamada.
Group members sign a card for Dr Tun Aung’s family at June’s group meeting
Please send a message of support to the family of Dr Tun Aung, a Burmese medic imprisoned for “inciting communal violence” following his attempts to calm a riot between two religious groups in Maungdaw in June 2012.
Please send your message of support to Dr Tun Aung’s Family, c/o Myanmar Team, International Secretariat, Amnesty International, 1 Easton Street, London, WC1X.
Please do not send religious cards and please ensure the card arrives at the address above by July 12th 2013.
Dr Sam Elhamoui is running 10K in July to raise money for the Syrian Medical Committee.
This organisation provides medical assistance both inside the country and in refugee camps, helping to establish medical clinics and health centres for those affected by the ongoing conflict.
Please leave messages of support for Sam and visit the website http://syrmc.com/ to find out more or to sponsor Sam’s run.
Please note this charity is not connected to Amnesty International UK.
Amnesty International Taunton Local Group 